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Published on: October 8, 2021
Microbial symbionts expanding or constraining abiotic niche space in insects
Marion M Lemoine1, Tobias Engl1, Martin Kaltenpoth1
1Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Institute for Organismic and Molecular Evolution (iomE), Johannes Gutenberg University, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
Abstract:
In addition to their well-studied contributions to their host's nutrition, digestion, and defense, microbial symbionts of insects are increasingly found to affect their host's response toward abiotic stressors. In particular, symbiotic microbes can reduce or enhance tolerance to temperature extremes, improve desiccation resistance by aiding cuticle biosynthesis and sclerotization, and detoxify heavy metals. As such, individual symbionts or microbial communities can expand or constrain the abiotic niche space of their host and determine its adaptability to fluctuating environments. In light of the increasing impact of humans on climate and environment, a better understanding of host-microbe interactions is necessary to predict how different insect species will respond to changes in abiotic conditions.
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