The impact of fig wasps (Chalcidoidea), new to the Mediterranean, on reproduction of an invasive fig tree Ficus microcarpa (Moraceae) and their potential for its biological control

Wang, Rong; Aylwin, Robert; Cobb, J. L. S.; Craine, Lamara; Ghana, Salah; Reyes‐Betancort, J. Alfredo; Quinnell, Rupert J.; Compton, Stephen G.

doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2014.11.004

Cited by 13 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…The natural distribution range of F. microcarpa encompasses a variety of tropical and sub-tropical climates, and the tree has also been translocated into some localities with seasonal, Mediterranean climates worldwide [34,35]. Ficus microcarpa is a natural lithophyte or 'strangler' of other trees, but outside its native range occurs mainly as a planted street tree or as a colonizer of buildings [36].…”

Section: Materials and Methods (A) Ficus Microcarpa And Its Associatedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loss of top-down biotic interactions changes the relative benefits for obligate mutualists

et al. 2019

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The collapse of mutualisms owing to anthropogenic changes is contributing to losses of biodiversity. Top predators can regulate biotic interactions between species at lower trophic levels and may contribute to the stability of such mutualisms, but they are particularly likely to be lost after disturbance of communities. We focused on the mutualism between the fig tree Ficus microcarpa and its host-specific pollinator fig wasp and compared the benefits accrued by the mutualists in natural and translocated areas of distribution. Parasitoids of the pollinator were rare or absent outside the natural range of the mutualists, where the relative benefits the mutualists gained from their interaction were changed significantly away from the plant's natural range owing to reduced seed production rather than increased numbers of pollinator offspring. Furthermore, in the absence of the negative effects of its parasitoids, we detected an oviposition range expansion by the pollinator, with the use of a wider range of ovules that could otherwise have generated seeds. Loss of top-down control has therefore resulted in a change in the balance of reciprocal benefits that underpins this obligate mutualism, emphasizing the value of maintaining food web complexity in the Anthropocene.

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Section: Materials and Methods (A) Ficus Microcarpa And Its Associatedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loss of top-down biotic interactions changes the relative benefits for obligate mutualists

et al. 2019

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“…If any putative parasitoids were found to reduce seed production in the path analysis, then this would suggest they were atypical late‐ovipositing phytophages rather than parasitoids. Their negative effects on seed production could then be indicative of either their galls competing with seeds for nutrients, of seed‐feeding species that utilise pollinated ovules, or of species with a mixed feeding strategy that combines utilisation of both gall‐forming fig wasps and seeds as hosts (Pereira et al ., ). Depending on the relative timing of their oviposition, early‐ovipositing ovule gallers could potentially have negative effects on other phytophages because they are competing for ovules to utilise and later through competition for nutrients (Wang et al ., ). The pollinator clearly facilitates the seed predator.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A crop of F. microcarpa can consist of up to several thousand small figs located in the leaf axils, and mature figs are eaten by a wide range of bird species that aid rapid expansion of F. microcarpa populations (Shanahan et al, 2001;Caughlin et al, 2012). It has been regarded as invasive in Bermuda, Florida and Hawaii and is an expanding nuisance species in urban environments elsewhere (Wang et al, 2015b).…”

Section: Study Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Where the plant's pollinator is also introduced, it has increasingly become invasive (Wang et al ., ). Numerous NPFW species can exploit its figs and some can significantly reduce the plant's seed production (Wang et al ., , ,b), but their value as potential biocontrol agents depends on an understanding of their trophic relationships. To address this, we sampled the fig wasps associated with the figs of F. microcarpa throughout much of the plant's native and introduced ranges and recorded the sizes and spatial locations of their natal galls within individual figs with the aims of (i) detecting and comparing host ranges of parasitoid fig wasps between the two ranges of F. microcarpa and (ii) testing the factors that contribute to fig wasp community structure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ficus microcarpa is a monoecious fig tree that has been widely planted outside its native range. Where the plant's pollinator is also introduced, it has increasingly become invasive (Wang et al ., ). Numerous NPFW species can exploit its figs and some can significantly reduce the plant's seed production (Wang et al ., , ,b), but their value as potential biocontrol agents depends on an understanding of their trophic relationships.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Host‐parasitoid relationships within figs of an invasive fig tree: a fig wasp community structured by gall size

Compton

Chen

Hatcher

et al. 2017

Insect Conserv Diversity

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Revealing the host specificity of the predators/parasitoids of invasive species is a prerequisite when assessing the suitability of biocontrol agents, while the host ranges of top predators are likely to vary among communities comprising different species. Ficus microcarpa is a native plant in Asia and Australasia and has invaded in sometropical and subtropical areas. Besides its species‐specific pollinator, its figs also support many ovule‐galling and parasitoid non‐pollinating fig wasps. Here, based on a global collection of fig wasps associated with F. microcarpa figs, we used path analysis, supplemented by within‐fig spatial distributions and natal gall sizes to reveal food web structure of its associated fig wasps and the factors forming host ranges of parasitoids. The fig wasp community was species‐rich, and parasitoids were far rarer in the plant's introduced range. Parasitoids exhibited some host specificity, and four specific natural enemies of the plant's pollinator were identified with various intensities of effects on pollinator abundance. Parasitoid host ranges were consistent in both ranges of the plant, and mainly restricted by the size and the locations of host galls. No parasitoids were found associated with a unique seed predator. Our results showed how a large number of fig wasp species partition one host fig tree's figs and identified the species that have potential to control the sexual reproduction of F. microcarpa.

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Where are the seeds? Lack of floral morphs prevent seed production by the tristylous Pontederia cordata in South Africa

Wansell

Geerts

Coetzee

2022

Ecology and Evolution

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Reproduction is a crucial part of the successful establishment and spread of an invasive species. Invasive plants often produce seeds prolifically to spread into new ranges, yet the invasive macrophyte, Pontederia cordata L., does not appear to produce seeds in South Africa, limiting its invasive potential. Here, we aimed to determine what limits seed production of the tristylous P. cordata in South Africa, where it is widespread with impacts on the ecology of wetlands it invades, South Africa. We measured floral traits and pollen grain size from populations throughout the invasive range in South Africa to determine the relative proportion of tristylous morphs. We speculated that the absence of specialist native pollinators in the invasive range may be responsible for the absence of sexual reproduction and thus conducted a pollination study to determine whether flowers were visited. Thereafter, we hand pollinated 8865 flowers to conclude whether P. cordata exhibited an incompatibility system, which prevented seed production. The floral traits and pollen grain measurements were similar to those reported for short‐morphed flowers from the native range. The pollination study confirmed the absence of specialist insect visitors, while the hand‐pollination experiments resulted in no seed production. Only short‐morphed plants are present in South Africa, and the illegitimate pollination of short‐morphed plants prevents seed production. Vegetative spread through rhizome production is thus responsible for the invasion of P. cordata throughout South Africa. These findings suggest that control programs should target the plants' rhizomes to prevent and reduce spread. More importantly, preventing the introduction of medium‐ and long‐morphed plants into South Africa is crucial to preclude P. cordata from producing seeds and enhancing invasion.

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The impact of fig wasps (Chalcidoidea), new to the Mediterranean, on reproduction of an invasive fig tree Ficus microcarpa (Moraceae) and their potential for its biological control

Cited by 13 publications

References 49 publications

Loss of top-down biotic interactions changes the relative benefits for obligate mutualists

Loss of top-down biotic interactions changes the relative benefits for obligate mutualists

Host‐parasitoid relationships within figs of an invasive fig tree: a fig wasp community structured by gall size

Where are the seeds? Lack of floral morphs prevent seed production by the tristylous Pontederia cordata in South Africa

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