Sex or cannibalism: Polyphenism and kin recognition control social action strategies in nematodes.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 34433565.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/sciadv.abg8042 and PMC identifier 8386922.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC.
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Abstract
Resource polyphenisms, where single genotypes produce alternative feeding strategies in response to changing environments, are thought to be facilitators of evolutionary novelty. However, understanding the interplay between environment, morphology, and behavior and its significance is complex. We explore a radiation of <i>Pristionchus</i> nematodes with discrete polyphenic mouth forms and associated microbivorous versus cannibalistic traits. Notably, comparing 29 <i>Pristionchus</i> species reveals that reproductive mode strongly correlates with mouth-form plasticity. Male-female species exhibit the microbivorous morph and avoid parent-offspring conflict as indicated by genetic hybrids. In contrast, hermaphroditic species display cannibalistic morphs encouraging competition. Testing predation between 36 co-occurring strains of the hermaphrodite <i>P. pacificus</i> showed that killing inversely correlates with genomic relatedness. These empirical data together with theory reveal that polyphenism (plasticity), kin recognition, and relatedness are three major factors that shape cannibalistic behaviors. Thus, developmental plasticity influences cooperative versus competitive social action strategies in diverse animals.