Population structure and the evolution of virulence in nematode parasites of fig wasps

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 259; no. 5100; pp. 1442 - 1445
• Main Author: Herre, E.A. (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republic of Panama)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for the Advancement of Science 05.03.1993; American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Agaonidae; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; ESTRUCTURA DE LA POBLACION; EVOLUCION; EVOLUTION; Evolution (Biology); Female animals; FICUS; Fruits; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; HYMENOPTERA; Invertebrates; Natural history; Nematoda; NEMATODE ENTOMOPATHOGENE; Nematodes; NEMATODOS DE INSECTOS; PARASITE; Parasite hosts; Parasites; PARASITOS; Population structure; Reproductive success; Roundworms; Species; STRUCTURE DE LA POPULATION; Synecology; Terrestrial ecosystems; Virulence; Central America; Panama; America; Insecta; Parasite; Population structure; Host; Moraceae; Pathogenicity; Sex ratio; Pollinator; Animal plant relation; Ficus; Arthropoda; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Breeding success; Helmintha; Nemathelminthia; Spermatophyta; Fruit tree; Hymenoptera; Invertebrata; Nematoda
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.259.5100.1442

It is often assumed that parasitic and disease-producing organisms tend to evolve benign relationships with their hosts over time. In contrast, theoretical arguments suggest that increased opportunities for parasite transmission will promote the evolution of increased virulence. The natural history of species-specific nematodes that parasitize fig-pollinating wasps permits the testing of these predictions in natural populations. For 11 species of Panamanian fig wasps, those species characterized by population structures that result in increased opportunities for parasite transmission harbor more virulent species of nematodes. In addition, differences in population structure are also associated with differences in other intra- and interspecific phenomena, including sex ratios among the fig wasp species, the degree of tension in the wasp-fig mutualism, and lethal combat among the males of parasitic wasps