Back to Search Start Over

Sexually transmitted mutualist nematodes shape host growth across dung beetle species

Authors :
Levi W. Burdine
Armin P. Moczek
Patrick T. Rohner
Source :
Ecology and Evolution, Vol 14, Iss 3, Pp n/a-n/a (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
Wiley, 2024.

Abstract

Abstract Many symbionts are sexually transmitted and impact their host's development, ecology, and evolution. While the significance of symbionts that cause sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is relatively well understood, the prevalence and potential significance of the sexual transmission of mutualists remain elusive. Here, we study the effects of sexually transmitted mutualist nematodes on their dung beetle hosts. Symbiotic Diplogastrellus monhysteroides nematodes are present on the genitalia of male and female Onthophagus beetles and are horizontally transmitted during mating and vertically passed on to offspring during oviposition. A previous study indicates that the presence of nematodes benefits larval development and life history in a single host species, Onthophagus taurus. However, Diplogastrellus nematodes can be found in association with a variety of beetle species. Here, we replicate these previous experiments, assess whether the beneficial effects extend to other host species, and test whether nematodeā€mediated effects differ between male and female host beetles. Rearing three relatively distantly related dung beetle species with and without nematodes, we find that the presence of nematodes benefits body size, but not development time or survival across all three species. Likewise, we found no difference in the benefit of nematodes to male compared to female beetles. These findings highlight the role of sexually transmitted mutualists in the evolution and ecology of dung beetles.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20457758
Volume :
14
Issue :
3
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Ecology and Evolution
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.06782b925245499f953df202da9366e3
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11089