Diplogastrellus nematodes are sexually transmitted mutualists that alter the bacterial and fungal communities of their beetle host [Ecology]

A recent accumulation of studies has demonstrated that nongenetic, maternally transmitted factors are often critical to the health and development of offspring and can therefore play a role in ecological and evolutionary processes. In particular, microorganisms such as bacteria have been championed as heritable, symbiotic partners capable of conferring fitness...

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - October 16, 2018 Category: Science Authors: Cristina C. Ledon–Rettig, Armin P. Moczek, Erik J. Ragsdale Tags: Biological Sciences Source Type: research