Disturbance effects on community structure of Ficus tinctoria fig wasps in Xishuangbanna, China: implications for the fig/fig wasp mutualism

Détails

Ressource 1Télécharger: BIB_BE43207A4757.P001.pdf (274.45 [Ko])
Etat: Public
Version: Final published version
ID Serval
serval:BIB_BE43207A4757
Type
Article: article d'un périodique ou d'un magazine.
Collection
Publications
Titre
Disturbance effects on community structure of Ficus tinctoria fig wasps in Xishuangbanna, China: implications for the fig/fig wasp mutualism
Périodique
Insect Science
Auteur⸱e⸱s
Ma W.J., Yang D.R., Peng Y.Q.
ISSN
1744-7917 (electronic)
ISSN-L
1672-9609
Statut éditorial
Publié
Date de publication
2009
Volume
16
Numéro
5
Pages
417-424
Langue
anglais
Résumé
Fig trees are important components of tropical forests, because their fruits are eaten by so many vertebrates, but they depend on pollinating fig wasps to produce mature fruits. Disturbance to habitat structure can have a major impact on insect diversity and composition, potentially reducing fruit yields. We investigated the impact of habitat disturbance on the fig wasp community associated with male figs of Ficus tinctoria in Xishuangbanna, China. The community comprised one pollinator species Liporrhopalum gibbosae and six non-pollinating wasp species: Sycoscapter sp.1, Philotrypesis ravii, Philotrypesis sp.1, Neosycophila omeomorpha, Sycophila sp.1, and Walkerella sp.1. More disturbed areas were characterized by higher temperatures, less shade, and more vehicle noise. The response of the fig wasp community was complex, with no simple relationship between intensity of disturbance and pollinator abundance. However, the sex ratios (proportion of male progeny) of pollinators increased significantly in more disturbed areas. We conclude that potential changes in fig wasp community composition brought about by disturbance, are unpredictable, with unclear consequences for tropical rainforest biodiversity.
Web of science
Open Access
Oui
Création de la notice
23/06/2015 21:58
Dernière modification de la notice
20/08/2019 15:32
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