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Vertically transmitted symbiont reduces host fitness along temperature gradient
Author(s) -
Dusi E.,
Krenek S.,
Schrallhammer M.,
Sachse R.,
Rauch G.,
Kaltz O.,
Berendonk T. U.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1111/jeb.12336
Subject(s) - biology , host (biology) , wolbachia , genetic fitness , paramecium , paramecium caudatum , virulence , parasite hosting , transmission (telecommunications) , horizontal transmission , offspring , experimental evolution , zoology , ecology , reproductive success , genetics , biological evolution , virus , population , gene , pregnancy , biochemistry , demography , engineering , world wide web , computer science , sociology , electrical engineering
Parasites with exclusive vertical transmission from host parent to offspring are an evolutionary puzzle. With parasite fitness entirely linked to host reproduction, any fitness cost for infected hosts risks their selective elimination. Environmental conditions likely influence parasite impact and thereby the success of purely vertical transmission strategies. We tested for temperature‐dependent virulence of Caedibacter taeniospiralis, a vertically transmitted bacterial symbiont of the protozoan Paramecium tetraurelia . We compared growth of infected and cured host populations at five temperatures (16–32 °C). Infection reduced host density at all temperatures, with a peak of −30% at 28 °C. These patterns were largely consistent across five infected Paramecium strains. Similar to Wolbachia symbionts, C. taeniospiralis may compensate fitness costs by conferring to the host a ‘killer trait’, targeting uninfected competitors. Considerable loss of infection at 32 °C suggests that killer efficacy is not universal and that limited heat tolerance restricts the conditions for persistence of C. taeniospiralis .