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Peer-reviewedCC BYMicrobial ecology

Pollinator Species Identity, Behavioural Ecology and Life History Traits Shape Epibiont Bacterial Diversity.

  • V Aiko Lignon1
  • E Eirian Jones2
  • Manpreet K Dhami2,3
  • Clive Kaiser4
  • Flore Mas5
5 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Pest Management and Conservation, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand. [email protected].
  2. 2Department of Pest Management and Conservation, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand.
  3. 3Bioeconomy Science Institute - Maiangi Taiao, PO Box 69040, Lincoln, 7640, New Zealand.
  4. 4Department of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand.
  5. 5Bioeconomy Science Institute - Maiangi Taiao, Lincoln Science Centre, 74 Gerald Street, Lincoln, 7608, New Zealand.
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Abstract

Pollinators interact with flowers partly through direct surface contact, yet the bacterial communities associated with their external surfaces (epibionts) remain poorly understood compared with their gut microbiomes. This study characterised the epibiont bacterial communities of four pollinator species associated with northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum 'Duke') in New Zealand: bumble bee (Bombus terrestris), honey bee (Apis mellifera), drone fly (Eristalis tenax), and a New Zealand native bee (Lasioglossum sordidum). Using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing, we detected distinct epibiont communities among pollinator species, with significant differences in alpha and beta diversity. Bumble bees consistently exhibited specialised and low‑diversity communities, whereas drone flies showed the highest bacterial diversity. Several pollinator gut‑associated core bacterial genera, including Gilliamella, Lactobacillus, and Snodgrassella, were detected across most species, representing the first reports of Snodgrassella on E. tenax and of Lactobacillus and Gilliamella on L. sordidum. Environmentally acquired taxa dominated the epibiont communities, consistent with pollinator exposure to floral and habitat‑specific bacterial sources. Differential abundance analysis identified species‑specific bacterial signatures and highlighted how pollinator identity, behavioural ecology, and life history traits shape epibiont composition.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{lignon2026pollinator,
  title = {{Pollinator Species Identity, Behavioural Ecology and Life History Traits Shape Epibiont Bacterial Diversity.}},
  author = {V Aiko Lignon and E Eirian Jones and Manpreet K Dhami and Clive Kaiser and Flore Mas},
  journal = {Microbial ecology},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.1007/s00248-026-02845-9},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897293},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Pollinator Species Identity, Behavioural Ecology and Life History Traits Shape Epibiont Bacterial Diversity.
AU  - V Aiko Lignon
AU  - E Eirian Jones
AU  - Manpreet K Dhami
AU  - Clive Kaiser
AU  - Flore Mas
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/23
JO  - Microbial ecology
DO  - 10.1007/s00248-026-02845-9
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897293
AB  - Pollinators interact with flowers partly through direct surface contact, yet the bacterial communities associated with their external surfaces (epibionts) remain poorly understood compared with their gut microbiomes. This study characterised the epibiont bacterial communities of four pollinator species associated with northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum 'Duke') in New Zealand: bumble bee (Bombus terrestris), honey bee (Apis mellifera), drone fly (Eristalis tenax), and a New Zealand native bee (Lasioglossum sordidum). Using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing, we detected distinct epibiont communities among pollinator species, with significant differences in alpha and beta diversity. Bumble bees consistently exhibited specialised and low‑diversity communities, whereas drone flies showed the highest bacterial diversity. Several pollinator gut‑associated core bacterial genera, including Gilliamella, Lactobacillus, and Snodgrassella, were detected across most species, representing the first reports of Snodgrassella on E. tenax and of Lactobacillus and Gilliamella on L. sordidum. Environmentally acquired taxa dominated the epibiont communities, consistent with pollinator exposure to floral and habitat‑specific bacterial sources. Differential abundance analysis identified species‑specific bacterial signatures and highlighted how pollinator identity, behavioural ecology, and life history traits shape epibiont composition.
SN  - 0095-3628
SN  - 1432-184X
ER  -