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Assessment of mutualism between Bombus terrestris and its microbiota by use of microcolonies

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Abstract

Social pollinators, like honeybees and bumblebees, have specific microbiota. The specific association between the insect and its gut microbiota could lead to a functional dependence. In this project, we investigated whether an alteration in microbiota could influence the fitness of the generalist pollinator Bombus terrestris. We used bumblebee workers in microcolonies to assess effects on colony development and reproduction. Treatment with 200 ppm streptomycin and tetracycline resulted in a disruption of gut microbiota, and typically there was 100 % worker mortality. In contrast, treatment with streptomycin alone showed an improved reproduction and this concurred with a different gut microbiota pattern. The results are discussed in relation to effects of the gut microbiota on bumblebee fitness and potential beneficial effects by Lactobacillus sp. These data may open new avenues in the mass-rearing of bumblebees used for the biological pollination in agriculture.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO-Vlaanderen) and the Institute for the Promotion of Innovation by Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT, Brussels, Belgium). H. Mosallanejad is now staff of Iranian Research Institute of Plant protection which is acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Ivan Meeus, Veerle Mommaerts, Annelies Billiet, Hadi Mosallanejad & Guy Smagghe

  2. Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    Tom Van de Wiele

  3. Biobest NV, Westerlo, Belgium

    Felix Wäckers

Authors
  1. Ivan Meeus
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  2. Veerle Mommaerts
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  3. Annelies Billiet
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  4. Hadi Mosallanejad
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  5. Tom Van de Wiele
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  6. Felix Wäckers
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  7. Guy Smagghe
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Correspondence to Ivan Meeus.

Additional information

Evaluation du mutualisme entre Bombus terrestris et son microbiote grâce à l’utilisation de micro-colonies

Interactions hôte-micro-organisme / pollinisateur / insecte social / Bombus terrestris / streptomycine / Lactobacillus / probiotique

Abschätzung des Mutualismus zwischen Bombus terrestris und seinen Mikrobioten durch Verwendung von Mikrokolonien

Wirt-Mikroben-Interaktionen / soziale Bestäuber / Bombus terrestris / Streptomycin / Lactobacillus / Probiota

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Meeus, I., Mommaerts, V., Billiet, A. et al. Assessment of mutualism between Bombus terrestris and its microbiota by use of microcolonies. Apidologie 44, 708–719 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-013-0222-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-013-0222-9

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