they were created by the influence of mediator particles called (respectively) gluons, W and Z bosons, and photons
The particles (and the specific number of particles for each force) are a consequence of how the different forces are modelled. The local gauge groups for the electromagnetic, weak and strong forces are U(1), SU(2) and SU(3) (this is a simplification, especially for the weak force).
The existence of the graviton is a consequence of assuming that gravity can be modelled, in any way (some people have suggested E_8 as the gauge group) similarly to the other forces. So the graviton is not aether; its existence is predicted, perfectly sensibly, by a lot of theories, and is vital to the working of those theories.
In contrast, physicist came to realise you could discard aether without affecting their theories. So the non-existence of aether had no consequences, while the non-existence fo the graviton would have.
The particles (and the specific number of particles for each force) are a consequence of how the different forces are modelled. The local gauge groups for the electromagnetic, weak and strong forces are U(1), SU(2) and SU(3) (this is a simplification, especially for the weak force).
The one dimensional U(1) generates a single force carrier, the photon, the three dimensional SU(2) generates three (W+, W- and Z), while the eight dimensional SU(3) generates eight (superpositions of gluons and anti-gluons with three different colours).
The existence of the graviton is a consequence of assuming that gravity can be modelled, in any way (some people have suggested E_8 as the gauge group) similarly to the other forces. So the graviton is not aether; its existence is predicted, perfectly sensibly, by a lot of theories, and is vital to the working of those theories.
In contrast, physicist came to realise you could discard aether without affecting their theories. So the non-existence of aether had no consequences, while the non-existence fo the graviton would have.