Asymmetric sharing of pollinator fig wasps between two sympatric dioecious fig trees: a reflection of supply and demand or differences in the size of their figs?

• Published in: Botanical studies Vol. 63; no. 1; p. 7
• Main Authors: Yu, Hui, Zhang, Zhiwei, Liu, Lu, Cheng, Yufen, Deng, Xiaoxia, Segar, Simon T., Compton, Stephen G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Singapore 22.03.2022; Springer Nature B.V; SpringerOpen
• Subjects: Agaonidae; Asymmetry; Barriers; Biomedical and Life Sciences; dioecy; Ecology; females; Ficus; Ficus hirta; Ficus triloba; figs; Flowering; Fruit trees; Gene flow; head; Host plants; Host specificity; Hybrid; Life Sciences; males; Mutualism; Original; Original Article; oviposition; Phenology; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Sciences; Pollinator sharing; Pollinators; Relative abundance; shrubs; Size-matching; Small mammals; South East Asia; Species; supply balance; Sympatric populations; sympatry; Trees; Valisia esquirolianae; Valisia javana; Volatiles; South East Asia; Hybrid; Size-matching; Pollinator sharing; Mutualism; Host specificity

Background Host specificity among pollinator fig wasps (Agaonidae) depends on host plant specific volatile cues, but fig wasps must also pass through a narrow physical barrier (the ostiole) if they are to pollinate and oviposit. Across South East Asia the dioecious shrub Ficus hirta is associated wi...