Social behaviour in bees influences the abundance of Sodalis (Enterobacteriaceae) symbionts.

ABSTRACT: Social interactions can facilitate transmission of microbes between individuals, reducing variation in gut communities within social groups. Thus, the evolution of social behaviours and symbiont community composition have the potential to be tightly linked. We explored this connection by characterizing the diversity of bacteria associated with both eusocial and solitary bee species within the behaviourally variable family Halictidae using 16S amplicon sequencing. Contrary to expectations, we found few differences in bacterial abundance or variation between social forms; most halictid species appear to share similar gut bacterial communities. However, several strains of Sodalis, a genus described as a symbiont in a variety of insects but yet to be characterized in bees, differ in abu

SUBMITTER: Rubin BER 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6083661 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature