Transgenerational developmental effects of species‐specific, maternally transmitted microbiota inOnthophagusdung beetles

Abstract

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Developmental bias in horned dung beetles and its contributions to innovation, adaptation, and resilience

“…Specifically, recent work shows that the exchange of pedestals between two dung beetle species results in pronounced negative survival outcomes for one host species, while the other species demonstrates modest developmental delays with no significant effect on survival (Figure 3b). These findings provide the first experimental evidence that different Onthophagus host species may diverge in the extent to which they rely on gut microbiota to support normal development (Parker et al, 2018).…”

“…Furthermore, pedestal microbiota conveys resilience against dung-associated pathogens: larval mortality in the presence of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae, increases by 20-40% when reared in the absence of pedestal microbes (Schwab et al, in prep). These findings provide the first experimental evidence that different Onthophagus host species may diverge in the extent to which they rely on gut microbiota to support normal development (Parker et al, 2018). 4.3 | Niche construction as a critical and evolvable feature of normal development Shortly after feeding on the maternally-provisioned pedestal, larvae begin expressing a range of putative niche constructing behaviors that continue throughout their development. Specifically, recent work shows that the exchange of pedestals between two dung beetle species results in pronounced negative survival outcomes for one host species, while the other species demonstrates modest developmental delays with no significant effect on survival (Figure 3b).…”

“…These findings provide the first experimental evidence that different Onthophagus host species may diverge in the extent to which they rely on gut microbiota to support normal development (Parker et al, 2018). 4.3 | Niche construction as a critical and evolvable feature of normal development Shortly after feeding on the maternally-provisioned pedestal, larvae begin expressing a range of putative niche constructing behaviors that continue throughout their development. (b) The exchange of the maternally-transmitted pedestal microbiota between two dung beetle species results in developmental delay and increased mortality compared with beetles receiving their own microbiota (Parker, Dury, & Moczek, 2018). Throughout this time, larvae defecate throughout their brood ball, thereby distributing pedestal-derived microbiota across the brood ball microenvironment, and then refeed on their own excrement until metamorphosis .…”

The hologenome concept of evolution: do mothers matter most?

“…There was no statistical analysis to assess this possibility. The long‐term conservation of microbiotas in their hosts have also been shown in ants, honeybees, dung beetles, and Hydra …”

An introduction to phylosymbiosis

“…In addition, interspecific microbiomes are more costly to Nasonia larval growth and pupation than intraspecific microbiomes (24). Similarly, reciprocal maternal symbiont transplants between two wild, sympatric Ontophagus dung beetle species caused developmental delay and elevated mortality in non-native hosts that persisted to the next generation (25). Collectively, phylosymbiotic associations that impact host fitness support the premise that hosts are adapted to their native microbiomes rather than non-native microbiomes, although more studies are needed to confirm these associations and effects in captive and wild host populations.…”