Sterile intersexuality in an isopod induced by the interaction between a bacterium (Wolbachia) and the environment
An endocellular bacterium of the genus Wolbachia changes chromosomic (ZZ) males into functional females in a number of populations of the woodlouse Armadillidium vulgare. The interaction between the feminizing effect of Wolbachia and the lethal effect of high temperature on these bacteria is shown to be responsible for the appearance of high proportions of sterile intersexes (Si). Wolbachia-infected females produced an average of 15% Si when reared for 200 days under a daily thermoperiodic regime that included 4 h at 30°C. A temperature of 30°C is known to destroy Wolbachia. The Si phenotype may therefore be due to the partial destruction (or inhibition) of the feminizing bacteria by high temperature during development. This induction of a proportion of Si differs in two ways from the intersexuality induced by the conflict between the feminizing agent and a host autosomal gene. First, the genomic conflict does not lead to the production of numerous Si, and second, the temperature-dependent production of Si is a sporadic event induced by the environment, rather than being a heritable trait. The overproduction of sterile offspring at high temperatures can result inWolbachia-infected females of A. vulgare suffering a loss of fitness.