Neotropical bumblebee gut Microbiota are host conserved, yet disruption-prone.. Characterization of gut microbiota of Neotropical Bees

Gut microbiota often provide beneficial services for their hosts, the disturbance of these microbes can thus alter host health. This has been shown for social bees, many of which are important pollinators but also in decline. Our principal research goal is to compare gut microbiota composition of different native bumble bee species along elevational and latitudinal gradients. This study will provide the first comprehensive baseline data on the gut microbial communities of neotropical bumble bees, informing future ecological research and conservation efforts.