Fitness costs of phoretic nematodes in the burying beetle, Nicrophorus vespilloides.

ABSTRACT: Nicrophorus vespilloides is a social beetle that rears its offspring on decomposing carrion. Wild beetles are frequently associated with two types of macrobial symbionts, mites, and nematodes. Although these organisms are believed to be phoretic commensals that harmlessly use beetles as a means of transfer between carcasses, the role of these symbionts on N. vespilloides fitness is poorly understood. Here, we show that nematodes have significant negative effects on beetle fitness across a range of worm densities and also quantify the density-dependent transmission of worms between mating individuals and from parents to offspring. Using field-caught beetles, we provide the first report of a new nematode symbiont in N. vespilloides, most closely related to Rhabditoides regina, and show that

SUBMITTER: Wang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6342123 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature