Data from: Food-environment mediates the outcome of specific interactions between a bumblebee and its trypanosome parasite

Specific host-parasite interactions, where the outcome of exposure to a
parasite depends upon the genotypic identity of both parties, have
implications for understanding host-parasite co-evolution and patterns of
genetic diversity. Thus, grasping the extent to which these interactions
are mediated by environmental changes in a spatially and temporally
heterogeneous world is vital. In this study it is shown that the
environment can influence specific host-parasite interactions in the
well-studied system of the bumblebee Bombus terrestris and its trypanosome
parasite Crithidia bombi. Naturally relevant variation in the quality of
the food environment formed a three-way interaction with both host and
parasite identity in determining the outcome of infection, with regard to
the resistance of the host and the transmission of the parasite. The
demonstration of such a host-genotype by parasite-genotype by environment
interaction (GHxGPxE) shows the importance of considering environmental
variation when investigating host-parasite interactions. Moreover, such
interactions may to some extent explain levels of genetic diversity in
natural host-parasite systems owing to the fact that they will create
selection mosaics when environments are heterogeneous.