<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<p>Cold temperatures limit the survival and reproduction of honeybees. Therefore, successful overwintering is crucial for the survival of honeybee colonies and the pollination of flowering plants in the following spring. This study analyzed the gut microbiota of <italic>Apis cerana</italic> from Changbai Mountain during the overwintering period through 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. The analysis of microbial community composition showed that <italic>Gilliamella</italic>, <italic>Lactobacillus</italic>, <italic>Bifidobacterium</italic> and <italic>Snodgrassella</italic> were the core genera in the honeybee gut during the overwintering period. Moreover, alpha diversity analysis showed that the community diversity of the gut microbiota peaked in December. Beta diversity and LEfSe analysis showed that community composition was similar in December, January and February and that such beneficial bacteria as <italic>Snodgrassella</italic>, <italic>Acetobacteraceae</italic>, and <italic>Rhizobiales</italic> were differentially abundant during this period. The results of functional prediction analysis indicate that amino acid transport and metabolism, carbohydrate transport and metabolism, and the TCA cycle play an important role in overwintering. These results suggest that the dynamic changes in the gut microbiota of <italic>A. cerana</italic> during winter and mechanisms tolerate cold stress.</p>
</abstract>

Cold temperatures limit the survival and reproduction of honeybees. Therefore, successful overwintering is crucial for the survival of honeybee colonies and the pollination of flowering plants in the following spring. This study analyzed the gut microbiota of Apis cerana from Changbai Mountain during the overwintering period through 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. The analysis of microbial community composition showed that Gilliamella, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Snodgrassella were the core genera in the honeybee gut during the overwintering period. Moreover, alpha diversity analysis showed that the community diversity of the gut microbiota peaked in December. Beta diversity and LEfSe analysis showed that community composition was similar in December, January and February and that such beneficial bacteria as Snodgrassella, Acetobacteraceae, and Rhizobiales were differentially abundant during this period. The results of functional prediction analysis indicate that amino acid transport and metabolism, carbohydrate transport and metabolism, and the TCA cycle play an important role in overwintering. These results suggest that the dynamic changes in the gut microbiota of A. cerana during winter and mechanisms tolerate cold stress.

Analysis of Diversity and Composition of <italic>Apis Cerana</italic> Gut Microbiome in Overwintering Period

Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology University

Journal of Apicultural Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Analysis of Diversity and Composition of  Gut Microbiome in Overwintering Period

Cold temperatures limit the survival and reproduction of honeybees. Therefore, successful overwintering is crucial for the survival of honeybee colonies and...

Analysis of Diversity and Composition of Apis Cerana Gut Microbiome in Overwintering Period

Article Category: Original Article

Published Online: Dec 22, 2023

Page range: 135 - 146

Received: Aug 08, 2023

Accepted: Oct 19, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jas-2023-0009

Keywords
Changbai Mountain, gut microbiota, overwintering period, 16S rDNA

© 2023 Nannan Liu et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Supplementary Material Details

Supplementary Material Details

Supplementary Material Details

Analysis of Diversity and Composition of Apis Cerana Gut Microbiome in Overwintering Period

Article Category: Original Article

Published Online: Dec 22, 2023

Page range: 135 - 146

Received: Aug 08, 2023

Accepted: Oct 19, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jas-2023-0009

KeywordsChangbai Mountain, gut microbiota, overwintering period, 16S rDNA

© 2023 Nannan Liu et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Supplementary Material Details

Supplementary Material Details

Supplementary Material Details

Keywords
Changbai Mountain, gut microbiota, overwintering period, 16S rDNA