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Symbiont infection affects aphid defensive behaviours

Emilie Dion1, Sarah Erika Polin, Jean-Christophe Simon

  • 1UMR 1099 INRA-Agrocampus Ouest-Université Rennes 1 Biologie des Organismes et des Populations appliquée à la Protection des Plantes, 65 rue de Saint-Brieuc CS 84215, 35042, Rennes Cedex, France.

Biology Letters
|April 15, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Bacterial symbionts in aphids can alter host behavior, reducing defensive actions against enemies. This benefits both the aphid and the symbiont by lowering fitness costs associated with defense.

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