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Related Concept Videos

Microenvironments01:22

Microenvironments

Microorganisms inhabit highly localized spaces known as microenvironments, which are defined by distinct physical and chemical characteristics. These include oxygen concentration, pH, temperature, light availability, and nutrient levels. The conditions within a microenvironment can differ markedly from those in the surrounding area and significantly influence microbial growth, metabolism, and community structure.Microenvironments often display sharp physicochemical gradients over small spatial...
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Methods to Assess Microbial Communities

Microbial communities, comprising bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotic microorganisms, inhabit diverse ecosystems and play crucial roles in environmental and biological processes. Their diversity is defined by three main parameters: species richness (the number of distinct species), species abundance (the relative quantity of each species), and species evenness (how uniformly individual species are distributed in various locations). These factors together shape the structure and ecological balance...
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The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Empirical, Metagenomic, and Computational Techniques Illuminate the Mechanisms by which Fungicides Compromise Bee Health
08:36

Empirical, Metagenomic, and Computational Techniques Illuminate the Mechanisms by which Fungicides Compromise Bee Health

Published on: October 9, 2017

Microbial Communities Across Social Roles in Small Carpenter Bee Nests.

Phuong N Nguyen1, Sandra M Rehan2

  • 1Department of Biology, York University, 4700 Keele St, Toronto, M3J 1P3, Canada.

Microbial Ecology
|May 8, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Comparing bee microbiomes reveals social roles impact microbial communities. Whole-body analysis captures more fungal and plant diversity, offering insights into bee foraging and health.

Keywords:
BacteriaFungiMicrobial ecologyPlantSmall carpenter beeSocial environment

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Last Updated: May 9, 2026

Empirical, Metagenomic, and Computational Techniques Illuminate the Mechanisms by which Fungicides Compromise Bee Health
08:36

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In Vitro Rearing of Solitary Bees: A Tool for Assessing Larval Risk Factors
08:50

In Vitro Rearing of Solitary Bees: A Tool for Assessing Larval Risk Factors

Published on: July 16, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Microbiology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Bee microbiota are crucial for host symbiosis, but vary with species, social structure, and environment.
  • Understanding how environmental factors shape bee microbiomes is key to bee health and nest ecology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how social roles and foraging behaviors influence the bee microbiome.
  • To compare microbial communities (bacteria, fungi, plant DNA) in bees with different social statuses (mothers vs. daughters).
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of whole-gut versus whole-body sampling for microbiome analysis.

Main Methods:

  • DNA metabarcoding of 16S rRNA (bacteria), ITS (fungi), and rbcL (plant) regions.
  • Analysis of mothers and daughters (dwarf eldest and regular) from nests of the small carpenter bee, Ceratina calcarata.
  • Comparison of microbial communities from whole-guts and whole-bodies.

Main Results:

  • Social role significantly impacted microbial community composition.
  • Mothers exhibited higher plant diversity than daughters, particularly in whole-body samples, indicating foraging patterns.
  • Whole-body sampling recovered greater fungal and plant diversity than whole-gut sampling.

Conclusions:

  • DNA metabarcoding of whole bodies provides a broader view of bee-associated microbes, including environmental encounters.
  • Social status influences bee microbiome composition, with implications for microbial transmission within nests.
  • Bee microbiome analysis serves as a biomonitor for the health of the wider bee community.