The Reproductive Microbiome: An Emerging Driver of Sexual Selection, Sexual Conflict, Mating Systems, and Reproductive Isolation

Melissah Rowe; Liisa Veerus; Pål Trosvik; Angus Buckling; Tommaso Pizzari

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2019.11.004

The Reproductive Microbiome: An Emerging Driver of Sexual Selection, Sexual Conflict, Mating Systems, and Reproductive Isolation

Rowe M, Veerus L, Trosvik P, Buckling A, Pizzari T

Published January 19, 2020 Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 35(3), 220-234

DOI 10.1016/j.tree.2019.11.004 PMID 31952837

Abstract

All multicellular organisms host microbial communities in and on their bodies, and these microbiomes can have major influences on host biology. Most research has focussed on the oral, skin, and gut microbiomes, whereas relatively little is known about the reproductive microbiome. Here, we review empirical evidence to show that reproductive microbiomes can have significant effects on the reproductive function and performance of males and females. We then discuss the likely repercussions of these effects for evolutionary processes related to sexual selection and sexual conflict, as well as mating systems and reproductive isolation. We argue that knowledge of the reproductive microbiome is fundamental to our understanding of the evolutionary ecology of reproductive strategies and sexual dynamics of host organisms.

Melissah Rowe, Angus Buckling, Tommaso Pizzari, Pål Trosvik, Liisa Veerus

M Rowe, A Buckling, T Pizzari, P Trosvik, L Veerus

PMID 31952837 31952837 DOI 10.1016/j.tree.2019.11.004 10.1016/j.tree.2019.11.004 Rowe et al. 2020, Rowe 2020

Keywords

Animals, Biological Evolution, Female, Male, Microbiota, Reproduction, Reproductive Isolation, Sexual Behavior, Animal, Bacteria, Cryptic Female Choice, Reproductive Immunity, Sperm Competition

The Reproductive Microbiome: An Emerging Driver of Sexual Selection, Sexual Conflict, Mating Systems, and Reproductive Isolation

Abstract

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Keywords