From control to constraint: a study of reproduction in the eusocial honeybee and the solitary red mason bee

The major evolutionary transition from solitary to eusocial living is hallmarked by the reproductive division of labour. I investigated mechanisms underlying reproductive control in a solitary bee (Osmia bicornis), with the aim of informing how and why such mechanisms were co-opted into reproductively constraining workers in a eusocial species (Apis mellifera, mrca 95 mya; Peters et al., 2017). I start out by introducing the problems of reproductive constraint and the evolution of eusociality (Chapter 1).
In order to test functional links and perform manipulation, it is imperative to establish a reference species within the laboratory. To address the lack of a temperate European solitary model species, I attempted to establish O. bicornis in a laboratory environment (Chapter 3). Preliminary erratic successes of nesting and egg-laying behaviour were achieved, and future recommendations were laid out. To further facilitate O. bicornis as a model species; microsatellite markers were mined, designed, tested and validated in collaboration with the NERC Biomolecular analysis facility in Sheffield (Chapter 4). The broad applicability of these markers is discussed.
The capricious nature of laboratory egg-laying necessitated appraising reproductive control directly. To enable assaying oogenesis, I performed the first microstructural study of the O. bicornis ovary (Chapter 5). Since mating plays an important role in the ovary activation of eusocial queens and other insect species, I concurrently examined the effect of mating status on the ovary of O. bicornis (Chapter 5) — with special reference to the potential role of mating status in reproductive constraint. Finally, I investigated how a known mechanism of reproductive constraint (Duncan et al., 2016) operates in the related solitary bee, to ascertain its ancestral role (Chapter 6).The mechanism was found to be reversed in O. bicornis.
Chapter 7 places the overall findings within their wider context, and outlines future avenues of research.