Journal article
Patterns, causes and consequences of defensive microbiome dynamics across multiple scales
Molecular ecology, v 24(5), pp 1135-1149
Mar 2015
PMID: 25683348
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
The microbiome can significantly impact host phenotypes and serve as an additional source of heritable genetic variation. While patterns across eukaryotes are consistent with a role for symbiotic microbes in host macroevolution, few studies have examined symbiont-driven host evolution or the ecological implications of a dynamic microbiome across temporal, spatial or ecological scales. The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, and its eight heritable bacterial endosymbionts have served as a model for studies on symbiosis and its potential contributions to host ecology and evolution. But we know little about the natural dynamics or ecological impacts of the heritable microbiome of this cosmopolitan insect pest. Here we report seasonal shifts in the frequencies of heritable defensive bacteria from natural pea aphid populations across two host races and geographic regions. Microbiome dynamics were consistent with symbiont responses to host-level selection and findings from one population suggested symbiont-driven adaptation to seasonally changing parasitoid pressures. Conversely, symbiont levels were negatively correlated with enemy-driven mortality when measured across host races, suggesting important ecological impacts of host race microbiome divergence. Rapid drops in symbiont frequencies following seasonal peaks suggest microbiome instability in several populations, with potentially large costs of 'superinfection' under certain environmental conditions. In summary, the realization of several laboratory-derived, a priori expectations suggests important natural impacts of defensive symbionts in host-enemy eco-evolutionary feedbacks. Yet negative findings and unanticipated correlations suggest complexities within this system may limit or obscure symbiont-driven contemporary evolution, a finding of broad significance given the widespread nature of defensive microbes across plants and animals.
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Details
- Title
- Patterns, causes and consequences of defensive microbiome dynamics across multiple scales
- Creators
- Andrew H Smith - Drexel UniversityPiotr Łukasik - Drexel UniversityMichael P O'Connor - Drexel UniversityAmanda Lee - Drexel UniversityGarrett Mayo - Drexel UniversityMilton T Drott - Drexel UniversitySteven Doll - Drexel UniversityRobert Tuttle - Drexel UniversityRachael A Disciullo - Drexel UniversityAndrea Messina - Drexel UniversityKerry M Oliver - University of GeorgiaJacob A Russell - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Molecular ecology, v 24(5), pp 1135-1149
- Publisher
- Wiley; England
- Number of pages
- 15
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science (BEES); Microbiology and Immunology; Biology
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000350246500014
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84923620325
- Other Identifier
- 991014878046404721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology