Department of Biological Sciences, Kongju National University, Gongju, Republic of Korea.
Division of Gardens and Education, Korea National Arboretum, Pocheon, Republic of Korea.
Pest Manag Sci. 2023 Dec;79(12):5180-5185. doi: 10.1002/ps.7721. Epub 2023 Aug 23.
Invasive species such as the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina), along with four other Vespa species - Vespa analis, Vespa crabro, Vespa ducalis, and Vespa mandarinia - pose significant threats to the environment, economy, and human health. This study focuses on understanding the key factors contributing to the successful invasion of these species, particularly V. velutina, in South Korea. The analysis encompasses the gut bacterial communities and stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen of the queen hornets, aiming to identify variances in gut microbial composition and food resource utilization.
The gut bacterial communities in the five Vespa species were primarily composed of Proteobacteria, with Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes present. Vespa velutina and V. mandarinia had higher Firmicutes abundance at the phylum level, possibly indicating an increased capacity for dietary fiber breakdown and short-chain fatty acid production, providing them with a competitive edge. No significant differences in nitrogen and carbon stable isotope values were found among the five Vespa species, suggesting that they fed on similar food sources. However, V. velutina had a higher number of unique gut bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs), implying adaptation through the acquisition of a distinct gut bacterial set. Significant correlations were found between the observed index and the Shannon index, and between δ N and the observed index, suggesting that the food source diversity may influence the gut bacterial community diversity.
Our study offered valuable insights regarding the adaptation of V. velutina to its new environment in South Korea. The potential role of gut microbiota in the success of invasive species was elucidated. This information is crucial for the management of invasive species, targeted control methods, and implementing preventive regulations. Further studies with larger sample sizes and comprehensive sampling are required to gain a complete understanding of the gut microbiota of Vespa species and their adaptation to new environments. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
黄脚胡蜂（Vespa velutina）等入侵物种，以及其他四个胡蜂物种——Vespa analis、Vespa crabro、Vespa ducalis 和 Vespa mandarinia——对环境、经济和人类健康构成重大威胁。本研究重点关注理解这些物种（特别是 V. velutina）在韩国成功入侵的关键因素。分析包括蜂王的肠道细菌群落和碳、氮稳定同位素，旨在确定肠道微生物组成和食物资源利用的差异。
五个胡蜂物种的肠道细菌群落主要由变形菌门组成，厚壁菌门和拟杆菌门也存在。Vespa velutina 和 Vespa mandarinia 在门水平上具有更高的Firmicutes 丰度，这可能表明它们对膳食纤维分解和短链脂肪酸产生的能力增强，使它们具有竞争优势。五个胡蜂物种的氮和碳稳定同位素值没有显著差异，表明它们以相似的食物来源为食。然而，V. velutina 具有更多独特的肠道细菌操作分类单元（OTUs），这表明通过获得独特的肠道细菌集来适应。观察到的指数与 Shannon 指数之间以及 δ N 与观察到的指数之间存在显著相关性，这表明食物源多样性可能影响肠道细菌群落多样性。
本研究为 V. velutina 对韩国新环境的适应提供了有价值的见解。阐明了肠道微生物群在入侵物种成功中的潜在作用。这些信息对于入侵物种的管理、有针对性的控制方法和实施预防法规至关重要。需要进行具有更大样本量和全面采样的进一步研究，以全面了解胡蜂物种的肠道微生物群及其对新环境的适应。 © 2023 化学工业协会。
