Use of fecal samples for microbiome analysis in bumblebees

Due to declines in bumblebees and other pollinators, there is an increased need for monitoring of bee populations and health. The gut microbiome is integral to bumblebee health, with roles in nutrition and immune function, including interactions with pathogens, which have been shown to contribute to bee declines. Noninvasive methods enable deeper sampling of bee populations with less impact on sensitive populations. Wider sampling of bumblebee microbiomes would provide information on bee health while expanding the phylogenetic and ecological scope of bee microbiome research. Previous studies have demonstrated the use of fecal samples to obtain bee DNA, and that fecal microbiomes are able to recover gut microbiomes. This study demonstrates the use of fecal samples for comparative microbiome analyses using two bumblebee species from North AmericaEcology, Evolution and Behavio