Context‐dependent vertical transmission shapes strong endosymbiont community structure in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum

• DOI: 10.1111/mec.14449
• Publication Date: 2017-12-07T12:02:58Z
• Authors: Danielle I. Rock; Andrew H. Smith; Jonah Joffe; Amie Albertus; Narayan Wong; Michael O'Connor; Kerry M. Oliver; Jacob A. Russell
• Keywords: Acyrthosiphon pisum; Facultative; Spiroplasma; Buchnera

Animal-associated microbiomes are often comprised of structured, multispecies communities, with particular microbes showing trends co-occurrence or exclusion. Such structure suggests variable community stability, costs and benefits-possibilities implications for symbiont-driven host adaptation. In this study, we performed systematic screening maternally transmitted, facultative endosymbionts the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. Sampling across six locales, up to 5 years collection in each, netted significant consistent structure. Co-infections between Serratia symbiotica Rickettsiella viridis were more common than expected, while Rickettsia X-type symbionts colonized aphids Hamiltonella defensa expected. Spiroplasma co-infected other quite rarely, tendencies colonize as a single species monoculture. Field estimates maternal transmission rates help explain our findings: improved each other's transmission, reduced co-infecting endosymbionts. summary, findings show that North American harbour recurring combinations Common symbiont partners play distinct roles aphid biology, suggesting creation "generalist" receiving symbiont-based defence against multiple ecological stressors. Multimodal selection, at level, may thus partially results. But conclusively, within-host microbe interactions, their resulting impacts on rates, an important determinant Widespread distributions heritable plants invertebrates hint far-reaching these findings, work further shows benefits symbiosis research within natural context.