High Symbiont Relatedness Stabilizes Mutualistic Cooperation in Fungus-Growing Termites
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High Symbiont Relatedness Stabilizes Mutualistic Cooperation in Fungus-Growing Termites. / Aanen, Duur K; de Fine Licht, Henrik H; Debets, Alfons J M; Kerstes, Niels A G; Hoekstra, Rolf F; Boomsma, Jacobus J.
I: Science, Bind 326, Nr. 5956, 2009, s. 1103-6.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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TY - JOUR
T1 - High Symbiont Relatedness Stabilizes Mutualistic Cooperation in Fungus-Growing Termites
AU - Aanen, Duur K
AU - de Fine Licht, Henrik H
AU - Debets, Alfons J M
AU - Kerstes, Niels A G
AU - Hoekstra, Rolf F
AU - Boomsma, Jacobus J
N1 - Keywords: Animals; Evolution; Genes, Fungal; Genetic Variation; Isoptera; Spores, Fungal; Symbiosis; Termitomyces
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - It is unclear how mutualistic relationships can be stable when partners disperse freely and have the possibility of forming associations with many alternative genotypes. Theory predicts that high symbiont relatedness should resolve this problem, but the mechanisms to enforce this have rarely been studied. We show that African fungus-growing termites propagate single variants of their Termitomyces symbiont, despite initiating cultures from genetically variable spores from the habitat. High inoculation density in the substrate followed by fusion among clonally related mycelia enhances the efficiency of spore production in proportion to strain frequency. This positive reinforcement results in an exclusive lifetime association of each host colony with a single fungal symbiont and hinders the evolution of cheating. Our findings explain why vertical symbiont transmission in fungus-growing termites is rare and evolutionarily derived.
AB - It is unclear how mutualistic relationships can be stable when partners disperse freely and have the possibility of forming associations with many alternative genotypes. Theory predicts that high symbiont relatedness should resolve this problem, but the mechanisms to enforce this have rarely been studied. We show that African fungus-growing termites propagate single variants of their Termitomyces symbiont, despite initiating cultures from genetically variable spores from the habitat. High inoculation density in the substrate followed by fusion among clonally related mycelia enhances the efficiency of spore production in proportion to strain frequency. This positive reinforcement results in an exclusive lifetime association of each host colony with a single fungal symbiont and hinders the evolution of cheating. Our findings explain why vertical symbiont transmission in fungus-growing termites is rare and evolutionarily derived.
U2 - 10.1126/science.1173462
DO - 10.1126/science.1173462
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 19965427
VL - 326
SP - 1103
EP - 1106
JO - Science
JF - Science
SN - 0036-8075
IS - 5956
ER -
ID: 17367928