Evidence that the microbiota counteracts male outbreeding strategy by inhibiting sexual signaling in females

Heys, C. , Lize, A., Colinet, H., Price, T., Prescott, M., Ingleby, F. and Lewis, Z. (2018) Evidence that the microbiota counteracts male outbreeding strategy by inhibiting sexual signaling in females. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 6, 29. (doi: 10.3389/fevo.2018.00029)

Abstract

The microbiota is increasingly being recognized as having important impacts on many host biological processes. However, evidence of its effects on animal communication and breeding strategy is lacking. In this three-factorial study, we show that females were more willing to mate with related males, with relatedness likely being assessed through the microbiota. By contrast, male mating investment is concurrently determined by both the relatedness and microbiota status of the female. When the microbiota in female Drosophila melanogaster is altered by an antibiotic, male investment in sperm number increased when mating with unrelated females compared to related ones. Contrastingly, the presence of an intact microbiota in females canceled this male outbreeding strategy. As a consequence, the microbiota, when intact, decreased the fitness of the mating couple. Furthermore, we showed that female sexual signaling (cuticular hydrocarbons), with regards to kin recognition, significantly interacts with microbiota. Interestingly, the interaction is significant for hydrocarbons expressed by both sexes, but not for female-specific compounds. Taken together, our results suggest that microbiota can influence kin recognition by disfavoring male outbreeding strategies, likely by inhibiting key olfactory sexual signaling. This represents the first evidence of a host outbreeding strategy counteracted by their microbiota.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (grant number NE/L002450/1).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Heys, Dr Chloe
• Authors: Heys, C., Lize, A., Colinet, H., Price, T., Prescott, M., Ingleby, F., and Lewis, Z.
• Subjects: Q Science > QL Zoology
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
• Publisher: Frontiers Research Foundation
• ISSN: 2296-701X
• ISSN (Online): 2296-701X
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 Heys, Lizé, Colinet, Price, Prescott, Ingleby and Lewis
• First Published: First published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 6: 29
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License