Seasonal shift in the intestinal microbiota of honey bees, Apis mellifera

Abstract: Honey bees, Apis mellifera, are important pollinators across the world who provide the crucial function of maintaining the health and wellbeing of natural and agricultural ecosystems. However, in recent years, there has been a documented decline in honey bee populations worldwide. Research suggests that the intestinal microbiota of honey bees is crucial for their wellbeing and immune system as well as providing protection against harmful pathogens and affecting their growth and development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seasonal shifts occurring within the microbiota of eight different honey bee communities and to compare the seasonal shift between autumn, winter and spring. This was done by Nanopore sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. The results showed that there was no statistical difference between the examined species throughout this study. This is in line with current research suggesting that the intestinal microbiota of honey bees remains relatively stable. However, other studies have shown that there occur seasonal shifts in the genera within the intestines, which might suggest a larger shift occurring within the genera as opposed to the induvial species. In conclusion, no seasonal shift could be observed between the species examined throughout this study which suggests that the intestinal microbiota of honey bees remains stable throughout the year.