Interactions between pollinator and non-pollinator fig wasps: correlations between their numbers can be misleading
نویسندگان
چکیده
23 Ficus and their species–specific pollinator fig wasps represent an obligate plant-insect 24 mutualism, but figs also support a community of non-pollinating fig wasps (NPFWs) 25 that consist of gall makers and parasitoids/inquilines. We studied interactions between 26 Kradibia tentacularis, the pollinator of a dioecious fig tree species Ficus montana, and 27 an undescribed NPFW Sycoscapter sp. Sycoscapter sp. oviposited 2-4 weeks after 28 pollinator oviposition, when host larvae were present in the figs. No negative correlation 29 was found between the numbers of the two wasp species emerging from figs in a semi30 natural population, which might suggest that the two species do not interact. However, 31 in experiments where the numbers of pollinator foundresses entering a fig were 32 controlled, Sycoscapter sp. significantly reduced the numbers of pollinator offspring. 33 Consequently, it can be concluded that Sycoscapter sp. is a parasitoid of K. tentacularis 34 (that may also feed on plant tissue). Sycoscapter females concentrate their oviposition in 35 figs that contain more potential hosts, rendering invalid conclusions based on simple 36 correlations of host and natural enemy numbers. 37 38
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