Extended phenotype: nematodes turn ants into bird-dispersed fruits.
A recent study has discovered a novel extended phenotype of a nematode which alters its ant host to resemble ripe fruit. The infected ants are in turn eaten by frugivorous birds that disperse the nematode's eggs.
Hughes
D P
DP
Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100, Denmark. dphughes@bi.ku.dk
Kronauer
D J C
DJ
Boomsma
J J
JJ
D000220:Adaptation, Biological / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009348:Nematoda / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology