Positive association between the diversity of symbionts and parasitoids of aphids in field populations
Open access
Date
2021-01Type
- Journal Article
Abstract
Parasites and pathogens are crucial in shaping immune systems. Many animals and especially insects have outsourced part of their immune function to protective symbionts. There is good evidence that, akin to immune systems, parasites shape the occurrence and diversity of protective symbionts and that likewise, protective symbionts can shape the occurrence and diversity of parasites. Such a relationship should result in a correlation between symbiont and parasite diversity in nature. Aphids are well known for possessing symbionts that provide specific and effective protection against parasitoid wasps. We compared symbiont and parasitoid diversity across multiple populations of different aphid species of the genus Aphis and their parasitoid wasps. The diversity of protective symbionts and parasitoids was indeed positively associated. Even though this association was very noisy, it is in line with the hypothesis that parasitoids and symbionts promote each other’s diversity. © 2021 The Authors. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000467207Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
EcosphereVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
Ecological Society of AmericaSubject
parasitoid wasps; aphids; defensive symbiosis; ; immune system; maintenance of diversityMore
Show all metadata