Abstract
A MiSeq multiplexed 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of the gut microbiota of wild and indoor-reared Bombus terrestris (bumblebees) confirmed the presence of a core set of bacteria, which consisted of Neisseriaceae (Snodgrassella), Orbaceae (Gilliamella), Lactobacillaceae (Lactobacillus), and Bifidobacteriaceae (Bifidobacterium). In wild B. terrestris we detected several non-core bacteria having a more variable prevalence. Although Enterobacteriaceae are unreported by non next-generation sequencing studies, it can become a dominant gut resident. Furthermore the presence of some non-core lactobacilli were associated with the relative abundance of bifidobacteria. This association was not observed in indoor-reared bumblebees lacking the non-core bacteria, but having a more standardized microbiota compared to their wild counterparts. The impact of the bottleneck microbiota of indoor-reared bumblebees when they are used in the field for pollination purpose is discussed.
Highlights
Bumblebees play an important role in pollination networks, providing an essential ecological service to maintain plant diversity [1, 2] and a commercial service for many agricultural crops [3]
Deep sequencing of the microbiota of B. terrestris, one of the most common bumblebees in Europe, revealed several bacterial taxa known to be associated with corbiculate bees
Snodgrassella, Gilliamella, Lacto1-Firm5 and Lacto2-Firm4 have been described as core bacteria of Apis [34] and the former three are quite prevalent in B. terrestris
Summary
Bumblebees play an important role in pollination networks, providing an essential ecological service to maintain plant diversity [1, 2] and a commercial service for many agricultural crops [3]. To date there are major concerns towards a global decline in the natural pollinator diversity [4]. There is growing evidence of dramatic declines of bumblebees in Europe and other parts of the world [2, 5, 6]. Multiple causes have been recognized including forage and habitat loss [7]
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