@article{fdi:010092112,
  title = {{S}pecies-rich old grasslands have beneficial effects on the health and gut microbiome of bumblebees},
  author = {{P}ornon, {A}. and {B}enoiston, {A}nne-{S}ophie and {E}scaravage, {N}. and {L}ihoreau, {M}. and {M}ahot-{C}astaing, {B}. and {M}artin, {G}. and {M}oreau, {L}. and {W}hite, {J}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{R}ecent studies have shown that old, traditionally managed semi-natural grasslands ({SNG}s) harbour specific plant assemblages characterized by high species richness, diversity, evenness and a great abundance and diversity of floral resources. {A}s nectar and pollen from many of these plants contain a multitude of favourable phytochemical compounds, we hypothesized that pollinator health and survival would improve in old, species-rich hay {SNG}s compared to younger {SNG}s. {W}e monitored experimental colonies of bumblebees placed in hay {SNG}s of different ages. {T}he survival of bumblebees increased with grassland age, thus they lived longer and produced more workers in the old {SNG}s. {T}he abundance of actinomorphic flowers (with radial symmetry) increased with the age of the {SNG}s and was positively correlated with the body size, body mass and lipid reserves of the bumblebees. {T}he taxonomic composition of gut microbiota changed during the experiment, with a significant decrease of core taxa {B}ombiscardovia and {B}ifidobacterium in young {SNG}s, while the abundance of {B}ombilactobacillus increased in old {SNG}s. {A}t the end of the experiment, the bumblebees of young {SNG}s hosted lower abundances of {G}illiamella than those of old {SNG}s. {I}n old {SNG}s, there was a positive relationship between floral richness and the abundance of six taxa, including the three core taxa {B}ombiscardovia, {B}ifidobacterium and {S}nodgrassella. {M}icrobiota alpha-diversity decreased and microbiota beta-diversity increased over time in young {SNG}s, while both remained stable in old {SNG}s. {B}oth deterministic and stochastic processes acting simultaneously in bumblebee microbiomes within young {SNG}s seemed to explain these changes. {C}ompared to old forests, very little attention has been paid to old, species-rich grasslands. {C}onsidering their importance for pollinator health, as well as their high ecological and cultural values, it is crucial that the rare and endangered old, species-rich hay {SNG}s are protected.},
  keywords = {{B}ombus terrestris ; bumblebee ; colony development ; grassland age ; gut microbiota ; old species-rich grasslands ; plant diversity ; {FRANCE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{F}unctional {E}cology},
  volume = {39},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {308--319},
  ISSN = {0269-8463},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.1111/1365-2435.14705},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010092112},
}