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

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.