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Glyphosate and a glyphosate-based herbicide affect bumblebee gut microbiota
Marjo Helander1, Aditya Jeevannavar1, Kimmo Kaakinen1
1Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland.
FEMS Microbiology Ecology
|June 14, 2023
Summary
Pesticide use impacts bumblebee gut microbes. Glyphosate-based herbicides reduced gut microbiota diversity, while glyphosate alone increased it, affecting key bacterial species and potentially harming bee health and ecosystems.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
- Ecology
Background:
- Pollinator decline is a significant global challenge.
- Pesticide overuse, particularly glyphosate, is a suspected contributing factor.
- The bumblebee gut microbiota plays a crucial role in bee health and survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of glyphosate and a glyphosate-based herbicide on bumblebee gut microbiota composition.
- To assess the sensitivity of specific bee gut microbes to glyphosate exposure.
Main Methods:
- Bumblebees were exposed to glyphosate and a glyphosate-based herbicide through their diet.
- 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to quantify microbial community shifts.
- Microbial sensitivity to glyphosate was estimated based on enzyme presence.
Main Results:
- Glyphosate increased, while the glyphosate-based herbicide decreased gut microbiota diversity.
- Both treatments reduced the abundance of potentially sensitive bacteria (Snodgrasella alvi).
- The abundance of other sensitive bacteria (Candidatus Schmidhempelia) increased with glyphosate exposure.
Conclusions:
- Negative effects on bumblebee gut microbiota diversity appear linked to herbicide co-formulants, not solely glyphosate.
- A significant proportion of bee gut microbes exhibit resistance or sensitivity to glyphosate.
- Widespread glyphosate-based herbicide use may have adverse implications for bee health and ecosystem function.
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