Fungal Endosymbionts Of Plants Reduce Lifespan Of An Aphid Secondary Parasitoids And Influence Host Selection

Fungi living in between cells of plants produce toxins that protect plants from herbivores. However, herbivores are only at the base of food chains. How far up food chains can the toxic effects reach, potentially shape ecological communities? We used a food chain consisting of an agricultural grass, aphids, primary and secondary parasitoids. Effects of the fungal-produced toxins were far-reaching indeed, reducing the lifespan of secondary parasitoids.

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Filed under: Biology on August 7th, 2008