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.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 
Apr 10th, 1:00 PM Apr 10th, 2:00 PM

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.