Host species and developmental stage, but not host social structure, affects bacterial community structure in socially polymorphic bees. Issue 2 (20th March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McFrederick, Quinn S.; Wcislo, William T.; Hout, Michael C.; Mueller, Ulrich G.
• Is Part Of: FEMS microbiology ecology. Volume 88:Issue 2(2014)
• Page Start: 398
• Page End: 406
• Publication Date: 2014-03-20
• Subjects: Microbial ecology -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579.17
• DOI: 10.1111/1574-6941.12302
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0168-6496

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="fem12302-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Social transmission and host developmental stage are thought to profoundly affect the structure of bacterial communities associated with honey bees and bumble bees, but these ideas have not been explored in other bee species. The halictid bees <italic>Megalopta centralis</italic> and <italic>M. genalis</italic> exhibit intrapopulation social polymorphism, which we exploit to test whether bacterial communities differ by host social structure, developmental stage, or host species. We collected social and solitary <italic>Megalopta</italic> nests and sampled bees and nest contents from all stages of host development. To survey these bacterial communities, we used 16S rRNA gene 454 pyrosequencing. We found no effect of social structure, but found differences by host species and developmental stage. <italic>Wolbachia</italic> prevalence differed between the two host species. Bacterial communities associated with different developmental stages appeared to be driven by environmentally acquired bacteria. A <italic>Lactobacillus kunkeei</italic> clade bacterium that is consistently associated with other bee species was dominant in pollen provisions and larval samples, but less abundant in mature larvae and pupae. Foraging adults appeared to often reacquire <italic>L. kunkeei</italic> clade bacteria, likely while foraging at flowers. Environmental transmission appears to be more important than social transmission for <italic>Megalopta</italic> bees at the cusp between social and solitary behavior.</p> </abstract>