Have you ever thought about the tiny world living inside a bee's gut? Not bacteria in general, the theory of a particular family of bacteria, Gilliamella. When a bee's diet changes, these bacteria need to adapt to the new landscape of their environment. This isn't easy. As diet fluctuates, their environment does too. When food is scarce and sugar low. The bee goes to eat that pollen and the bacteria in the bee's gut have to manage two things. Volatility and competition.

        Let's consider the five Gilliamella species. They have found a clever way to manage the competition.

It's strange enough that constant change inside a bee causes them to adapt. They have to adapt and both protect themselves as well as majority of themselves. Maybe not their kin but relatives or the others.

It's a survival of the fittest and these bacteria aren't special for nothing. Let's break down the rivalry and how they to manage to live on.

        For food competition purposes, we have to divide them into two classes, G-Specialists and Non-G-Specialists. G-Specialists fancy pollen-rich meals, but when it comes to a simple sugar or sugar-pollen mix, they're not the best competitors. Nature has a funny way of working.

       Even though the G-Specialists don't compete well in a high-sugar environment,  they are actually the most common in wild bees.  this is because of their ability to thrive in poor nutritional environments. Their "life strategy" is one with a high biomass yield on a low-sugar diet.  They prepare themselves for when the bees are going through a dietary lean period. They have the ability to make something out of nothing. So can you see how they managed to survive and even prosper?

       The life history strategy of these bacteria isn't just about competition. It's about being able to have a life style that manages their shortcomings. That product is about waste management.  They have to survive in a world that is both hostile and competitive.

       Their gene expression plays a huge part in determining their 'life history strategy' and the genes responsible for this are all the same across the board.

        The impact of these strains in the bee's gut is immense. They are needed to maintain a balance. Metabolic strategies of bacteria for carbohydrate utilization also play a huge role in the coexistence of these bacteria, the changes inside of the  bee gut determines their success or failure.   This intricate dance of bacteria goes on to ensure the  success of these bees and their healthier lifestyles. The presence of these gastrointestinal flora help bees to keep their gut healthy and functioning.

        The health of these bacteria is directly proportional to the health of the bees. The beehive would not be sustainable without them.

Bee-Gut Bacteria: How They Survive and Why They Matter

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