Throughout the course of evolution, the brains of social organisms have been fine-tuned to better navigate their social environments and modulate social interactions. This set of adaptations is often referred to as the ‘social brain’. To better understand the genetic and neurobiological mechanisms that facilitate social interactions, we study a unique group of bees that vary naturally in their nest social structure. Halictid bees have repeated gained and lost sociality, resulting in many closely related yet behaviorally variable species. Using this comparative lens, we are examining the genetic factors that shape variation in social behavior within and among species and linking these genetic changes with neurobiological and behavioral traits. Together, this work provides insights into the factors that shape the evolution of the ‘social brain’ across different levels of biological complexity.
Organizer
Henk-Jan Boele
h.boele@erasmusmc.nl