Environmentally acquired gut-associated bacteria are not critical for growth and survival in a solitary bee, Megachile rotundata

• DOI: 10.1128/aem.02076-23
• Publication Date: 2024-08-13T13:01:55Z
• Authors: Gagandeep Brar; Madison Floden; Quinn McFrederick; Arun Rajamohan; George Yocum; Julia Bowsher
• Keywords: Bee Pollen; Megachilidae; Dominance (genetics)

ABSTRACT Social bees have been extensively studied for their gut microbial functions, but the significance of microbiota in solitary remains less explored. Solitary bee, Megachile rotundata females provision offspring with pollen from various plant species, harboring a diverse community that colonizes larvae guts. The Apilactobacillus is most abundant microbe, evidence concerning effects and other microbes on growth survival are lacking. We hypothesized presence abundance would enhance larval prepupal development, weight, survival, while absence intact communities was expected to negative impact bee fitness. reared provisions naturally collected (Natural pollen) or devoid (Sterile pollen). also assessed introducing micheneri by adding it both types provisions. Feeding sterile + A. led highest mortality rate, followed natural , pollen. Larval development significantly delayed groups fed Interestingly, weights did not differ across treatments compared pollen-fed larvae. 16S rRNA gene sequencing found dominance Sodalis when introduced michene ri suggests potential crosstalk between both, shaping nutrition health. Hence, this study highlights reliance nonhost-specific environmental bacteria may fitness M. . IMPORTANCE This investigates environmentally acquired insights into ecology While symbiotic microbiome well-studied social bees, role unclear. Assessing relationship pollinator, leaf-cutting we discovered species does depend either its survival. Surprisingly, high concentrations consistently benefit fitness, caused mortality. Our findings suggest an interaction perhaps nutrition. provides significant contribute understanding conservation, pollination future.