The use of pinned specimens helps uncover patterns of genetic differentiation and signatures of selection in a wild pollinator
In this study, we used reduced representation genome sequencing to collect genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data for Agapostemon virescens samples from curated collections in Eastern Canada. We evaluated the impact of sampling techniques on the number of sequenced reads and mapping percentages to estimate the utility of the non-destructive extraction protocol in generating data for population genetics analyses. We also inferred patterns of population structure of A. virescens across its distribution in Eastern Canada and calculated genetic diversity statistics to gain insights into the natural genetic variation of the ground-dwelling pollinator across a large geographic area. Lastly, we used the genome-scan approach to test for evidence of adaptive divergence to better understand how environmental factors affect selection processes in wild bees.