Phoresy

White, P. Signe; Morran, Levi T.; Roode, Jacobus de

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2017.03.073

Cited by 46 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…In addition to providing environmental stability, hosts may expand the dispersal range of an organism by niche construction (Buser et al, 2014). Some organisms with limited dispersal abilities, such as mites and nematodes, use hosts exclusively to migrate among discrete, impermanent biotopes, in a phenomenon called phoresy (White, Morran & de Roode, 2017). The proximate ecological benefits of phoresy (Houck & OConnor, 1991) are equivalent to those provided by increased dispersal in metapopulations with ephemeral patches, i.e.…”

Section: (2) Host As a Hitchhiker's Ridementioning

confidence: 99%

A niche perspective on the range expansion of symbionts

2019

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Range expansion results from complex eco‐evolutionary processes where range dynamics and niche shifts interact in a novel physical space and/or environment, with scale playing a major role. Obligate symbionts (i.e. organisms permanently living on hosts) differ from free‐living organisms in that they depend on strong biotic interactions with their hosts which alter their niche and spatial dynamics. A symbiotic lifestyle modifies organism–environment relationships across levels of organisation, from individuals to geographical ranges. These changes influence how symbionts experience colonisation and, by extension, range expansion. Here, we investigate the potential implications of a symbiotic lifestyle on range expansion capacity. We present a unified conceptual overview on range expansion of symbionts that integrates concepts grounded in niche and metapopulation theories. Overall, we explain how niche‐driven and dispersal‐driven processes govern symbiont range dynamics through their interaction across scales, from host switching to geographical range shifts. First, we describe a background framework for range dynamics based on metapopulation concepts applied to symbiont organisation levels. Then, we integrate metapopulation processes operating in the physical space with niche dynamics grounded in the environmental arena. For this purpose, we provide a definition of the biotope (i.e. living place) specific to symbionts as a hinge concept to link the physical and environmental spaces, wherein the biotope unit is a metapopulation patch (either a host individual or a land fragment). Further, we highlight the dual nature of the symbionts' niche, which is characterised by both host traits and the external environment, and define proper conceptual variants to provide a meaningful unification of niche, biotope and symbiont organisation levels. We also explore variation across systems in the relative relevance of both external environment and host traits to the symbiont's niche and their potential implications on range expansion. We describe in detail the potential mechanisms by which hosts, through their function as biotopes, could influence how some symbionts expand their range – depending on the life history and traits of both associates. From the spatial point of view, hosts can extend symbiont dispersal range via host‐mediated dispersal, although the requirement for among‐host dispersal can challenge symbiont range expansion. From the niche point of view, homeostatic properties of host bodies may allow symbiont populations to become insensitive to off‐host environmental gradients during host‐mediated dispersal. These two potential benefits of the symbiont–host interaction can enhance symbiont range expansion capacity. On the other hand, the central role of hosts governing the symbiont niche makes symbionts strongly dependent on the availability of suitable hosts. Thus, environmental, dispersal and biotic barriers faced by suitable hosts apply also to the symbiont, unless eventual opportunities for host switch...

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Section: (2) Host As a Hitchhiker's Ridementioning

confidence: 99%

A niche perspective on the range expansion of symbionts

2019

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“…Instead, these species hitch a ride on the bodies of other more mobile species and are consequently transported from resource to resource (Bartlow, Villa, Thompson, & Bush, 2016;Guerra, Romero, Costa, Lofego, & Benson, 2012). This strategy, known as phoresy, is common in many species of insects, mites, and nematodes and is a form of symbiosis that is typically believed to be harmless to the host (Houck, 2009;Signe White, Morran, & de Roode, 2017). This strategy, known as phoresy, is common in many species of insects, mites, and nematodes and is a form of symbiosis that is typically believed to be harmless to the host (Houck, 2009;Signe White, Morran, & de Roode, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus rather than developing mechanisms to detect resources, they have evolved mechanisms to ensure reliable and durable associations with the species that carry them (Krishnan, Muralidharan, Sharma, & Borges, 2010;von Beeren & Tishechkin, 2017). The rationale for this belief is that because phoretic species are wholly dependent on their hosts for their migration, species that cause too much harm and thereby reduce their transport between breeding resources face the risk of local extinction (Signe White et al, 2017). The rationale for this belief is that because phoretic species are wholly dependent on their hosts for their migration, species that cause too much harm and thereby reduce their transport between breeding resources face the risk of local extinction (Signe White et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Wang

Rozen

2018

Ecology and Evolution

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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 worm densities are highly variable across individuals isolated from nature but do not differ between males and females. Next, by inoculating mating females with increasing densities of nematodes, we show that worm infections significantly reduce brood size, larval survival, and larval mass, and also eliminate the trade‐off between brood size and larval mass. Finally, we show that nematodes are efficiently transmitted between mating individuals and from mothers to larvae, directly and indirectly via the carcass, and that worms persist through pupation. These results show that the phoretic nematode R. regina can be highly parasitic to burying beetles but can nevertheless persist because of efficient mechanisms of intersexual and intergenerational transmission. Phoretic species are exceptionally common and may cause significant harm to their hosts, even though they rely on these larger species for transmission to new resources. However, this harm may be inevitable and unavoidable if transmission of phoretic symbionts requires nematode proliferation. It will be important to determine the generality of our results for other phoretic associates of animals. It will equally be important to assess the fitness effects of phoretic species under changing resource conditions and in the field where diverse interspecific interactions may exacerbate or reduce the negative effects of phoresy.

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“…Similarly to trophic interactions, nontrophic ones may also play an important role in population dynamics because they may be precursors of future trophic and eventually harmful interactions ( e.g ., phoresy, a type of commensalism, may evolve into parasitism; see White et al . ).…”

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confidence: 97%

“…It has also been suggested that such interactions should be classified into functional classes defined by the impacts on the focal species (e.g., interactions that modify feeding and nonfeeding parameters as well as interactions that modify an abiotic component such as space and immigration) (Kéfi et al 2012). Similarly to trophic interactions, nontrophic ones may also play an important role in population dynamics because they may be precursors of future trophic and eventually harmful interactions (e.g., phoresy, a type of commensalism, may evolve into parasitism; see White et al 2017).…”

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confidence: 99%

Ecological interaction of a “parasitic” candiru catfish and botos (Inia geoffrensis)

Araújo‐Wang

Schormans

Wang

2019

Marine Mammal Science

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The range of ecological interactions of the boto (Inia geoffrensis), an obligate freshwater dolphin of South America, is poorly known. We describe a new interaction between botos and small candiru catfish (genus Ochmacanthus), and their possible relationships. Candirus were photographed on at least 29 different botos. The minimum number of candirus per boto varied greatly from 1 to >230 (mean = 16.3, SD = 39.4, mode = 1). Our observations showed that candiru‐boto interactions occur commonly year‐round. Two types of ecological interaction may be occurring: parasitism (trophic) or phoresy (nontrophic). Although candirus are generally known as parasites, the candiru‐boto relationship does not appear to fulfill several characteristics of a typical parasitic interaction. Thus, the candiru‐boto relationship is most likely phoretic in nature. A shift in candiru trophic strategy may occur depending on the victim (botos or fish) and on the spatial scale, and human activities may influence the nature of these complex ecological interactions.

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Phoresy

Cited by 46 publications

References 7 publications

A niche perspective on the range expansion of symbionts

A niche perspective on the range expansion of symbionts

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

Ecological interaction of a “parasitic” candiru catfish and botos (Inia geoffrensis)

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