Ecology and evolution of facilitation among symbionts

Flore Zélé, Sara Magalhães, Sonia Kéfi and Alison B. Duncan ()
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Flore Zélé: University of Lisbon
Sara Magalhães: University of Lisbon
Sonia Kéfi: ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD
Alison B. Duncan: ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Facilitation occurs when one species positively impacts the fitness of another, and has predominantly been studied in free-living species like plants. Facilitation can also occur among symbiont (mutualistic or parasitic) species or strains, but equivalent studies are scarce. To advance an integrated view of the effect of facilitation on symbiont ecology and evolution, we review empirical evidence and their underlying mechanisms, explore the factors favouring its emergence, and discuss its consequences for virulence and transmission. We argue that the facilitation concept can improve understanding of the evolutionary forces shaping symbiont communities and their effects on hosts.

Date: 2018
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-06779-w

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06779-w

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