Life-history strategy, resource dispersion and phylogenetic associations shape dispersal of a fig wasp community

Venkateswaran, Vignesh and Shrivastava, Amitabh and Kumble, Anusha LK and Borges, Renee M (2017) Life-history strategy, resource dispersion and phylogenetic associations shape dispersal of a fig wasp community. In: MOVEMENT ECOLOGY, 5 (25).

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Abstract

Background: The combined influence of life-history strategy and resource dispersion on dispersal evolution of a biological community, and by extension, on community assemblage, has received sparse attention. Highly specialized fig wasp communities are ideal for addressing this question since the life-history strategies that affect their pace of life and the dispersion of their oviposition resources vary. We compared dispersal capacities of the wasp community of a widespread tropical fig, Ficus racemosa, by measuring flight durations, somatic lipid content and resting metabolic rates. Results: Wasp species exhibiting greater flight durations had higher energy reserves and resting metabolic rates. ``Fast''-paced species showed higher dispersal capacities reflecting requirements for rapid resource location within short adult lifespans. Longer-lived ``slow''-paced species exhibited lower dispersal capacities. Most dispersal traits were negatively related with resource dispersion while their variances were positively related with this variable, suggesting that resource dispersion selects for dispersal capacity. Dispersal traits exhibited a phylogenetic signal. Conclusions: Using a combination of phylogeny, trait functionality and community features, we explain how dispersal traits may have co-evolved with life-history strategies in fig wasps and influenced a predisposition for dispersal. We speculate how processes influencing dispersal trait expression of community members may affect resource occupancy and community assemblage.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	MOVEMENT ECOLOGY
Publisher:	10.1186/s40462-017-0117-x
Additional Information:	Copy right for this article belongs to the BIOMED CENTRAL LTD, 236 GRAYS INN RD, FLOOR 6, LONDON WC1X 8HL, ENGLAND
Department/Centre:	Division of Biological Sciences > Centre for Ecological Sciences
Date Deposited:	13 Jan 2018 06:55
Last Modified:	13 Jan 2018 06:55
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/58585

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