Rearing and foraging affects bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) gut microbiota

Newbold, Lindsay K. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8895-1406; Oliver, Anna E.; Cuthbertson, Leah; Walkington, Sarah E.; Gweon, Hyun S.; Heard, Matthew S.; van der Gast, Christopher J.. 2015 Rearing and foraging affects bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) gut microbiota. Environmental Microbiology Reports, 7 (4). 634-641. https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-2229.12299

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Official URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1758-22...

Abstract/Summary

Bumblebees are ecologically and economically important as pollinators of crop and wild plants, especially in temperate systems. Species, such as the buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), are reared commercially to pollinate high value crops. Their highly specific gut microbiota, characterised by low diversity, may affect nutrition and immunity and are likely to be important for fitness and colony health. However, little is known about how environmental factors affect bacterial community structure. We analyzed the gut microbiota from three groups of worker bumblebees (B. terrestris) from distinct colonies that varied in rearing and foraging characteristics: commercially reared with restricted foraging (RR); commercially reared with outside foraging (RF); and wild-caught workers (W). Contrary to previous studies, which indicate that bacterial communities are highly conserved across workers, we found that RF individuals had an intermediate community structure compared to RR and W types. Further, this was shaped by differences in the abundances of common OTUs and the diversity of rare OTUs present which we propose results from an increase in the variety of carbohydrates obtained through foraging.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-2229.12299
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Acreman Pywell
ISSN:	1758-2229
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Agriculture and Soil Science Biology and Microbiology
Date made live:	16 Jul 2015 10:45 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/511325

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-2229.12299

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Acreman
Pywell

ISSN:

1758-2229

NORA Subject Terms:

Ecology and Environment
Agriculture and Soil Science
Biology and Microbiology

Date made live:

16 Jul 2015 10:45 +0 (UTC)