Positive and negative effects of phoretic mites on the reproductive output of an invasive bark beetle

Hodgkin, Lisa K.; Elgar, Mark A.; Symonds, Matthew R. E.

doi:10.1071/zo10034

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Although phoresy is often viewed as a form of commensalism where the phoretic species benefits and the host is unaffected, this is not always the case with reports of both negative (Lindquist , Hodgkin et al. ) and positive impacts (Purrington and Drake ) on the host.…”

Section: Necrobiome Interactions and Networkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, at least 18 species of mites are known to be phoretic on the bark beetle Dendroctonus frontalis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the southeastern United States (Moser 1976). Although phoresy is often viewed as a form of commensalism where the phoretic species benefits and the host is unaffected, this is not always the case with reports of both negative (Lindquist 1969, Hodgkin et al 2010) and positive impacts (Purrington and Drake 2008) on the host.…”

Section: Necrobiome Interactions and Networkmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Necrobiome framework for bridging decomposition ecology of autotrophically and heterotrophically derived organic matter

Benbow

Barton

Ulyshen

et al. 2018

Ecological Monographs

142

144

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Decomposition contributes to global ecosystem function by contributing to nutrient recycling, energy flow, and limiting biomass accumulation. The decomposer organisms influencing this process form diverse, complex, and highly dynamic communities that often specialize on different plant or animal resources. Despite performing the same net role, there is a need to conceptually synthesize information on the structure and function of decomposer communities across the spectrum of dead plant and animal resources. A lack of synthesis has limited cross‐disciplinary learning and research in important areas of ecosystem and community ecology. Here we expound on the “necrobiome” concept and develop a framework describing the decomposer communities and their interactions associated with plant and animal resource types within multiple ecosystems. We outline the biotic structure and ecological functions of the necrobiome, along with how the necrobiome fits into a broader landscape and ecosystem context. The expanded necrobiome model provides a set of perspectives on decomposer communities across resource types, and conceptually unifies plant and animal decomposer communities into the same framework, while acknowledging key differences in processes and mechanisms. This framework is intended to raise awareness among researchers, and advance the construction of explicit, mechanistic hypotheses that further our understanding of decomposer community contributions to biodiversity, the structure and function of ecosystems, global nutrient recycling and energy flow.

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Section: Necrobiome Interactions and Networkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Necrobiome Interactions and Networkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Necrobiome framework for bridging decomposition ecology of autotrophically and heterotrophically derived organic matter

Benbow

Barton

Ulyshen

et al. 2018

Ecological Monographs

142

144

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“…For example, female bark beetles that carry mites produced larger and heavier offspring, suggesting phoront-specific benefits (Mazza, Cini, Cervo, & Longo, 2011). By contrast, mites carried by the red palm weevil significantly reduce beetle longevity, indicating severe costs (Hodgkin, Elgar, & Symonds, 2010). The factors that determine these different outcomes are varied and context-dependent, and show likely parallels to the diverse factors that influence the evolution of parasite virulence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

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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“…Other mite species which are less common are from the Tarsonemidae, Acaridae and Histiostomatidae, Digamasellidae, Epriariidae (Stone & Simpson ; Hodgkin et al . ). Mites associated with other Ips species parasitise bark beetle eggs or prey on their larvae (Lindquist ; Blackman & Evans ), and some also feed on fungi (Moser et al .…”

Section: Biological Associatesmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Some mite species were identified by Stone and Simpson () and Hodgkin et al . (), but their role and biological relationship s are unknown.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biology of the bark beetleIps grandicollis Eichhoff (Coleoptera:Scolytinae) and its arthropod, nematode and microbial associates: a review of management opportunities forAustralia

et al. 2014

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The five-spined bark beetle, Ips grandicollis, is an exotic pest in Australia that preferentially attacks stressed pine trees, including Pinus radiata D. Don, but it can also attack healthy trees. The beetle has been present in Australia for 70 years, feeding principally on logging debris, with occasional outbreaks resulting in damage to plantations. Attack on trees stressed by drought, fire or storm damage leads to occasional significant losses. In recent years, I. grandicollis has been observed to attack 'trap trees' treated with herbicide to make them attractive to Sirex noctilio Fabricius as part of a successful biological control programme against this wood wasp. Ips grandicollis is able to tolerate a wide range of climatic conditions, and has an extensive geographical range (limited by host tree plantings). The economic impact of I. grandicollis is exacerbated by adults vectoring a fungus, Ophiostoma ips (Rumbold) Nannfeldt, which discolours the outer sapwood and contributes to tree death. Nematodes also are also associated with I. grandicollis, both in the body cavity and under the elytra. The dominant nematode is Contortylenchus grandicolli Massey, which is found internally, in haemocoel, the gut and the head region of the majority of adult beetles. Mites and bacteria are also associated with I. grandicollis but their biology is not well known. Since the first detection of I. grandicollis in Australia, various bio-control and other management strategies have been tested. While a better understanding of the microbial and nematode associates of I. grandicollis may yield novel approaches for the management of this exotic pest, semiochemical-based disruptants offer more immediate scope, particularly for protecting small areas of high value trees such as trap tree plots.

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Positive and negative effects of phoretic mites on the reproductive output of an invasive bark beetle

Cited by 14 publications

References 38 publications

Necrobiome framework for bridging decomposition ecology of autotrophically and heterotrophically derived organic matter

Necrobiome framework for bridging decomposition ecology of autotrophically and heterotrophically derived organic matter

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

Biology of the bark beetleIps grandicollis Eichhoff (Coleoptera:Scolytinae) and its arthropod, nematode and microbial associates: a review of management opportunities forAustralia

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