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2018 ; 8
(6
): 3296-3310
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Nesting strategies and disease risk in necrophagous beetles
#MMPMID29607025
Fialho VS
; Rodrigues VB
; Elliot SL
Ecol Evol
2018[Mar]; 8
(6
): 3296-3310
PMID29607025
show ga
While the effects of carcass decomposition on microorganisms have been
demonstrated in recent years, little is known of how this impacts necrophagous
insects. A common assumption is that insects that exploit carcasses are exposed
to a high density of potentially harmful microorganisms, but no field data have
so far validated this. Necrophagous beetles such as the Scarabaeinae have complex
nesting behaviors with elaborate parental care. So here, we begin to explore
whether this conjunction of life history and nesting behavior represents an
adaptive response to the threat posed by microbes in these environments, mainly
by entomopathogens. We evaluated the density and distribution of fungi and
bacteria from soil near the carcasses, and their ability to infect and kill
insects that are in contact with this soil during the decomposition process. Our
data showed an increase in the density and activity of opportunistic or
facultative pathogens during the apex of decomposition, when there is a
predominance of necrophagous insects. Meanwhile, the survivorship of bait insects
decreased when in contact with soil from this period of decomposition, indicating
a potential risk of infection. However, the density and activity of these
microorganisms decreased with distance from the carcass, mainly with depth, which
would benefit tunneller beetles in particular. We have thus provided the first
field data to show that necrophagous insects are indeed exposed to high densities
of potentially harmful microorganisms. Furthermore, we propose that some parental
care strategies may have arisen not only as a response to competition, but also
as adaptations that reduce the risks of disease. Although we have focused on
carrion feeders, we suggest that the same occurs with coprophagous beetles, as
both carrion and dung are nutrient-rich resources.