Variation in gut microbial communities and its association with pathogen infection in wild bumble bees (Bombus).

ABSTRACT: Bacterial gut symbiont communities are critical for the health of many insect species. However, little is known about how microbial communities vary among host species or how they respond to anthropogenic disturbances. Bacterial communities that differ in richness or composition may vary in their ability to provide nutrients or defenses. We used deep sequencing to investigate gut microbiota of three species in the genus Bombus (bumble bees). Bombus are among the most economically and ecologically important non-managed pollinators. Some species have experienced dramatic declines, probably due to pathogens and land-use change. We examined variation within and across bee species and between semi-natural and conventional agricultural habitats. We categorized as 'core bacteria' any operational

SUBMITTER: Cariveau DP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4260702 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature