Evolutionary transition in symbiotic syndromes enabled diversification of phytophagous insects on an imbalanced diet.

ABSTRACT: Evolutionary adaptations for the exploitation of nutritionally challenging or toxic host plants represent a major force driving the diversification of phytophagous insects. Although symbiotic bacteria are known to have essential nutritional roles for insects, examples of radiations into novel ecological niches following the acquisition of specific symbionts remain scarce. Here we characterized the microbiota across bugs of the family Pyrrhocoridae and investigated whether the acquisition of vitamin-supplementing symbionts enabled the hosts to diversify into the nutritionally imbalanced and chemically well-defended seeds of Malvales plants as a food source. Our results indicate that vitamin-provisioning Actinobacteria (Coriobacterium and Gordonibacter), as well as Firmicutes (Clostridium) a

SUBMITTER: Sudakaran S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4817627 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature