BACTERIA MODULATE THE DEGREE OF AMPHIMIX OF THEIR SYMBIOTIC ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODES (Heterohabditis spp) IN RESPONSE TO NUTRITIONAL STRESS

18/09/2007file://C:\Documents and Settings\Usuario\Escritorio\Klaus\nematode-sex.htm Abstract: Facultatively sexual entomopatogenic nematodes are a promising model for the experimental study of the adaptive values of sex. Our experiments in the laboratory showed that Entomopatogenic nematodes display at least two different strategies in regulating the degree of amphimix as a response to nutritional stress. One strategy promotes the production of males, amphimix and the genetic variability of the offspring, improving the chances for a successful new adaptation. Another strategy increases the production of hermaphrodites at the expense of males, increasing the total number of reproductive individuals and thus the total number of offspring produced. Surprisingly, the strategy used depends upon the strain of symbiotic bacteria the nematodes are growing. The relevance of the results, in helping to discriminating between rival theories for the evolutionary maintenance of sex, is discussed