Event Title
Endosymbiotic Microbes and the Evolution of Social Behavior
Presentation Type
Poster/Portfolio
Presenter Major(s)
Biology
Mentor Information
Michael Lombardo
Department
Biology
Location
Henry Hall Atrium 65
Start Date
10-4-2013 1:00 PM
End Date
10-4-2013 2:00 PM
Keywords
Life Science
Abstract
Animals form mutualistic endosymbiotic relationships with microbes. These microbes aid in digestion, supplement nutrients, increase tolerance to environmental stress, enhance host immunity, and increase fecundity. Other specialized symbiotic relationships can facilitate host functions such as bioluminescence or chemosynthetic energy production in gutless hosts. Endosymbiotic microbes specialize to meet their host's requirements, sometimes resulting in cospeciation or coevolution between the hosts and microbes. The mutualism between hosts and microbes can be either obligate or facultative, and the microbes can be transmitted either vertically or horizontally. Lombardo (2008) proposed that host species requiring contact with conspecifics to obtain obligate endosymbionts would evolve social behaviors to facilitate microbial transfer between individuals. I reviewed studies published since 2008 review to test that hypothesis. Current data support the hypothesis.
Endosymbiotic Microbes and the Evolution of Social Behavior
Henry Hall Atrium 65
Animals form mutualistic endosymbiotic relationships with microbes. These microbes aid in digestion, supplement nutrients, increase tolerance to environmental stress, enhance host immunity, and increase fecundity. Other specialized symbiotic relationships can facilitate host functions such as bioluminescence or chemosynthetic energy production in gutless hosts. Endosymbiotic microbes specialize to meet their host's requirements, sometimes resulting in cospeciation or coevolution between the hosts and microbes. The mutualism between hosts and microbes can be either obligate or facultative, and the microbes can be transmitted either vertically or horizontally. Lombardo (2008) proposed that host species requiring contact with conspecifics to obtain obligate endosymbionts would evolve social behaviors to facilitate microbial transfer between individuals. I reviewed studies published since 2008 review to test that hypothesis. Current data support the hypothesis.