RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Isolation disrupts social interactions and destabilizes brain development in bumblebees
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.12.16.472962
DO 10.1101/2021.12.16.472962
A1 Z Yan Wang
A1 Grace C. McKenzie-Smith
A1 Weijie Liu
A1 Hyo Jin Cho
A1 Talmo Pereira
A1 Zahra Dhanerawala
A1 Joshua W. Shaevitz
A1 Sarah D. Kocher
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/12/17/2021.12.16.472962.abstract
AB Social isolation, particularly in early life, leads to deleterious physiological and behavioral outcomes. Few studies, if any, have been able to capture the behavioral and neurogenomic consequences of early life social isolation together in a single social animal system. Here, we leverage new high-throughput tools to comprehensively investigate the impact of isolation in the bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) from behavioral, molecular, and neuroanatomical perspectives. We reared newly emerged bumblebees either in complete isolation, small groups, or in their natal colony, and then analyzed their behaviors while alone or paired with another bee. We find that when alone, individuals of each rearing condition show distinct behavioral signatures. When paired with a conspecific, bees reared in small groups or in the natal colony express similar behavioral profiles. Isolated bees, however, showed increased social interactions. To identify the neurobiological correlates of these differences, we quantified brain gene expression and measured the volumes of key brain regions for a subset of individuals from each rearing condition. Overall, we find that isolation increases social interactions and disrupts gene expression and brain development. Limited social experience in small groups is sufficient to preserve typical patterns of brain development and social behavior.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.