Comparing Symbiont Densities in Laboratory-Maintained and Field Populations of Acyrthosiphon pisum

Within-host density of the symbiont-infections. Symbionts have the capacity to establish within the host at a higher density to maintain a high transmission fidelity and sometimes higher density could mean stronger protection. Density matters because it influences the costs and benefits of symbiosis. Here, I showed that the density of symbionts varies in both single, co-infection and in the natural population of pea aphids. I compared data obtained from field-collected samples with data obtained under an experimentally controlled setting to determine the variation in symbiont density.