Seed Set and Wasp Predation in Dioecious Ficus variegata from an Australian Wet Tropical Forest

Abstract

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Phylogenetic analyses suggest a hybrid origin of the figs (Moraceae: Ficus) that are endemic to the Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands, Japan

“…Therefore, the seeds, pollen and pollinators are produced within the same syconium. In contrast, the gynodioecious figs segregate the male (producing pollen and pollinators) and female (producing seeds) functions in two different kinds of syconia on separate fig trees (Galil, 1973;Verkerke, 1989;Weiblen et al, 1995). The female syconium contains only long-styled pistillate flowers, therefore the pollen-bearing female wasps, which enter the syconium cannot lay their eggs on the flowers, consequently only seeds are nurtured.…”

Coevolution of reproductive characteristics in three dioecious fig species and their pollinator wasps

“…This mutualism has often been used to examine the costs and benefits of reproductive success to each of the involved parties (Kjellberg et al, 1987;Herre, 1989;Herre and West, 1997;Patel and Hossaert-McKey, 2000), and how ecological and evolutionary factors affect the reproductive success of each partner (Janzen, 1979;Kjellberg et al, 1987;Compton and Hawkins, 1992;Anstett et al, 1997). These studies have revealed conflicts of reproductive interest between the two parties (Herre, 1989;Bronstein, 1992;Weiblen et al, 1995;Herre and West, 1997). So far, most of these issues have only been studied in monoecious Ficus (Patel and Hossaert-McKey, 2000).…”

“…Nefdt and Compton (1996), Anstett et al (1997), Herre and West (1997) On the other hand, female trees produce figs with only long-styled ovaries that prevent pollinators from ovipositing because their ovipositors are too short to reach the ovaries (Verkerke, 1989;Weiblen et al, 1995;Yu et al, 2008). The evolutionary conflicts between dioecious figs and their pollinators stems from the separation of wasp offspring and seed production between the two sexes of trees (Weiblen et al, 1995(Weiblen et al, , 2001Harrison and Yamamura, 2003;Yu et al, 2008). The fig wasps can only produce offspring in the male figs, and their offspring is subsequently needed to successful pollination of the female figs (Weiblen et al, 1995;Yu et al, 2008).…”

“…The evolutionary conflicts between dioecious figs and their pollinators stems from the separation of wasp offspring and seed production between the two sexes of trees (Weiblen et al, 1995(Weiblen et al, , 2001Harrison and Yamamura, 2003;Yu et al, 2008). The fig wasps can only produce offspring in the male figs, and their offspring is subsequently needed to successful pollination of the female figs (Weiblen et al, 1995;Yu et al, 2008). However, fig wasps entering female figs cannot produce offspring, but just pollinate the flowers.…”

“…Corlett et al (1990) compared seed set and wasp production between monoecious and dioecious figs in Singapore, by counting the number of wasp offspring and fig seeds, and found that the number of seeds in dioecious figs is higher than that in monoecious figs. Weiblen et al (1995), Patel and Hossaert-McKey (2000), and Yu et al (2008) Based on reproductive characteristics in monoecious fig species, Herre (1989) comes to the conclusion that 1) fig size and number of foundresses affect the reproductive success of both the wasps and the figs; 2) the natural distribution of foundresses per fruit tends to maximize the reproductive success of the figs more than of the wasps. This suggests that the figs are generally the 'controlling partner' in the mutualism.…”