Vulture Bee Microbiome

The aim of this project is to compare the microbiomes of pollenivorous, facultatively necrophagous and obligately necrophagous stingless (meliponini) bees using 16S rRNA. The goal is to determine whether the microbiome has been altered from the ancient core members that corbiculate apids share. This is relevant for understanding how extreme dietary shifts alter the microbiome and/or how the microbiome can facilitate these dietary shifts. Additionally, broadening the study of the microbiome of carrion-feeders can allow insight into how they protect themselves from pathogens on carcasses.