(More than) Hitchhikers through the network: The shared microbiome of bees and flowers

Growing evidence reveals strong overlap between microbiomes of flowers and bees, suggesting that flowers are hubs of microbial transmission. Whether floral transmission is the main driver of bee microbiome assembly, and whether functional importance of florally sourced microbes shapes bee foraging decisions are intriguing questions that remain unanswered. We suggest that interaction network properties, such as nestedness, connectedness, and modularity, as well as specialization patterns can predict potential transmission routes of microbes between hosts. Yet microbial filtering by plant and bee hosts determines realized microbial niches. Functionally, shared floral microbes can provide benefits for bees by enhancing nutritional quality, detoxification, and disintegration of pollen. Flower microbes can also alter the attractiveness of floral resources. Together, these mechanisms may affect the structure of the flower-bee interaction network.

Automated summary

Growing evidence suggests a strong overlap between microbiomes of flowers and bees, indicating flowers as hubs of microbial transmission. The role of floral transmission in bee microbiome assembly and the functional importance of florally sourced microbes in shaping bee foraging decisions remain intriguing. Interaction network properties and microbial filtering by plant and bee hosts can predict potential transmission routes between hosts. Shared floral microbes can benefit bees in various ways, from enhancing nutritional quality to altering the attractiveness of floral resources, potentially affecting the structure of the flower-bee interaction network.