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Paul Schmid-Hempel Professor Chair, Experimentelle Ökologie (Experimental Ecology) Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zentrum Universität Zürich, Switzerland |
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Paul Schmid-Hempel Professor Chair, Experimentelle Ökologie (Experimental Ecology) Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zentrum Universität Zürich, Switzerland |
Parasites and Host Genotype Diversification in the Selection Arena
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| Guest Lecture for Spring 2001 Graduate Seminar: Interdisciplinary Seminar in Animal Behavior | International Hamilton Symposium |
ABSTRACT:Hamilton recognized that to associate with close kin is, both, a boon and a bane. Such associations form selection arenas, where the benefits reach related individuals. This can facilitate the evolution of social behavior. At the same time, all indivuals incur the risk of carrying costs due to sharing similar genotypes. This is expecially true for the risk of parasitic infections that spread through family associations such as found in social insects. Theory suggests that genotype diversification of offspring that form the selection arena should reduce the impact of parasites in such systems. This can be achieved by either female multiple mating or recombination--aspects and consequences of sexual reproduction. Some insights into these processes are presented for a model study system of bumblebees and their parasites. Recombination rates are not excessively high, but the experimental study of multiple mating has supported the role of genotype diversification while, at the same time, revealed male-female conflicts over mating frequency. In addition, variation in mating frequency shows an adaptive valley which probably directly reveals the dual aspects of associating with kin. Finally, the evolution of recombination in such systems is discussed and highlighted. RELATED READING 
Baer, B. and P. Schmid-Hempel. 1999. Experimental variation in polyandry affects parasite loads and fitness in a bumblebee. Nature 397:151-154.Gadau, J., R.E.J. Page, J.H. Werren, and P. Schmid-Hempel. 2000. Genome organization and social evolution in Hymenoptera. Naturwiss 87:87-89. Schmid-Hempel, P., K. Puhr, N. Kruger, C. Reber, and R. Schmid-Hempel. 1999. Dynamic and genetic consequences of variation in horizontal transmission for a microparasitic infection. Evolution 53:426-434. ONLINE RESOURCES: Prof. Dr. Schmid-Hempel's departmental page Prof. Dr. Schmid-Hempel's research projects Parasites in Social Insects (1998) Experimental Ecology: Recent Publications |
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