ePrints@IIScePrints@IISc Home | About | Browse | Latest Additions | Advanced Search | Contact | Help

Chemical mediation and niche partitioning in nonpollinating fig-wasp communities

Proffit, Magali and Schatz, Bertrand and Borges, Renee M and Mckey, Martine Hossaert (2007) Chemical mediation and niche partitioning in nonpollinating fig-wasp communities. In: Journal of Animal Ecology, 76 (2). pp. 296-303.

[img] PDF
Chemical.pdf
Restricted to Registered users only

Download (181kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

1.The parasitic chalcidoid wasps associated with the species-specific and obligatory pollination mutualisms between Ficus spp. and their agaonid wasp pollinators provide a good model to study the functional organization of communities. 2.However, communities of non-pollinating fig wasps (NPFWs) remain little characterized, and their functioning and evolutionary dynamics are still poorly understood. 3.We studied the communities of NPFWs associated with the monoecious F. racemosa and the dioecious F. hispida. Associated with these two fig species are a total of seven wasp species belonging to three genera. These species present contrasts in life history traits and in timing of oviposition. The species studied are thus broadly representative of the communities of NPFWs associated specifically with fig–pollinator mutualisms. 4.In our study systems, there is temporal segregation of oviposition time among members of NPFW communities. 5.We tested the role of volatile chemicals in the attraction of NPFWs associated with these two fig species, and tried to determine if chemical mediation can explain the organization of the communities. 6.We conducted odour choice tests using a Y-tube olfactometer. All the NPFWs studied were shown to use volatile chemicals produced by the fig to locate their host. Furthermore, the signals used by each species depended on the phenological stage of the fig they exploit. 7.Results demonstrated that the pattern of oviposition results from the utilization of volatile signals produced by figs that vary in their composition at different stages of fig development. Thus, chemical mediation allows resource partitioning in the NPFW communities associated with fig–pollinator mutualisms, and suggests hypotheses to explain coexistence in other parasite communities.

Item Type: Journal Article
Publication: Journal of Animal Ecology
Publisher: Blackwell
Additional Information: Copyright of this article belongs to Blackwell.
Keywords: Community ecology;Fig–fig wasp mutualism;Host localization;Olfactory perception of volatile compounds
Department/Centre: Division of Biological Sciences > Centre for Ecological Sciences
Date Deposited: 26 Jun 2007
Last Modified: 19 Sep 2010 04:36
URI: http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/10399

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item