Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 6, 2026
07:28
Methods for the Extraction of Endosymbionts from the Whitefly Bemisia tabaci
Published on: June 19, 2017
10.3K
Microbial Symbionts of Parasitoids
Marcel Dicke1, Antonino Cusumano1, Erik H Poelman1
1Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands; email: marcel.dicke@wur.nl, antonino.cusumano@wur.nl, erik.poelman@wur.nl.
Annual Review of Entomology
|October 8, 2019
Summary
Parasitoid insects rely on microbial symbionts for reproduction and host manipulation, not nutrition. These symbionts extend parasitoid influence beyond direct interactions, impacting entire ecological communities.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Entomology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Parasitoids are insects that lay eggs in or on a host insect, which is consumed during development.
- Parasitoids host diverse microbial symbionts (viruses, bacteria, fungi) that differ from those in other insect groups.
- Unlike symbionts of herbivorous or blood-feeding insects, parasitoid symbionts do not provide nutrients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the effects of parasitoid symbionts on species interactions.
- To explore the consequences of these interactions for community ecology.
- To highlight the extended phenotype of parasitoid symbionts.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing research on parasitoid symbionts.
- Analysis of studies on direct and indirect species interactions mediated by symbionts.
- Synthesis of findings on the ecological impact of parasitoid symbionts.
Main Results:
- Parasitoid symbionts are crucial for reproduction, host immune suppression, and host behavior manipulation.
- Parasitoid symbionts, like polydnaviruses, can mediate plant-mediated interactions across multiple trophic levels.
- These symbionts demonstrate a broader "extended phenotype" than previously understood.
Conclusions:
- Parasitoid symbionts play a significant role in shaping ecological communities.
- Understanding parasitoid symbiont functions is key to comprehending complex ecological interactions.
- The extended phenotype of parasitoid symbionts has profound implications for community ecology.
Keywords:
bacteriadirect interactionsecologyindirect interactionsinsect–plant interactionsmultitrophic interactionsparasitoid–host interactionsvirusesMore Related Videos
06:56Preparing and Rearing Axenic Insects with Tissue Cultured Seedlings for Host-Gut Microbiota Interaction Studies of the Leaf Beetle
Published on: October 8, 2021
2.9K
05:58Author Spotlight: Axenic Rearing of Delia antiqua to Detect the Impact of Intestinal Microbes on Its Growth and Development
Published on: December 22, 2023
1.0K
Related Concept Videos
00:58Symbiosis
36.8K
Symbiotic relationships are long-term, close interactions between individuals of different species that affect the distribution and abundance of those species. When a relationship is beneficial to both species, this is called mutualism. When the relationship is beneficial to one species but neither beneficial nor harmful to the other species, this is called commensalism. When one organism is harmed to benefit another, the relationship is known as parasitism. These types of relationships often...
36.8K
02:40Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores
16.5K
Plants often form mutualistic relationships with soil-dwelling fungi or bacteria to enhance their roots’ nutrient uptake ability. Root-colonizing fungi (e.g., mycorrhizae) increase a plant’s root surface area, which promotes nutrient absorption. While root-colonizing, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (e.g., rhizobia) convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3), making nitrogen available to plants for various biological functions. For example, nitrogen is essential for the...
16.5K
01:15Diversity of Protists I
799
Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...
799
02:11The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition
46.5K
Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.
46.5K
01:27Diversity of Protists II
739
Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
739
01:28Fungal Phylum Microsporidia
367
Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
367