Host-plant species conservatism and ecology of a parasitoid fig wasp genus (Chalcidoidea; Sycoryctinae; Arachonia)

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorMcLeish, Michael Jen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorBeukman, Garyen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorvan Noort, Simonen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorWossler, Theresa Cen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-11-23T12:38:42Z
dc.date.available2015-11-23T12:38:42Z
dc.date.issued2012en_ZA
dc.description.abstractParasitoid diversity in terrestrial ecosystems is enormous. However, ecological processes underpinning their evolutionary diversification in association with other trophic groups are still unclear. Specialisation and interdependencies among chalcid wasps that reproduce on Ficus presents an opportunity to investigate the ecology of a multi-trophic system that includes parasitoids. Here we estimate the host-plant species specificity of a parasitoid fig wasp genus that attacks the galls of non-pollinating pteromalid and pollinating agaonid fig wasps. We discuss the interactions between parasitoids and the Ficus species present in a forest patch of Uganda in context with populations in Southern Africa. Haplotype networks are inferred to examine intraspecific mitochondrial DNA divergences and phylogenetic approaches used to infer putative species relationships. Taxonomic appraisal and putative species delimitation by molecular and morphological techniques are compared. Results demonstrate that a parasitoid fig wasp population is able to reproduce on at least four Ficus species present in a patch. This suggests that parasitoid fig wasps have relatively broad host- Ficus species ranges compared to fig wasps that oviposit internally. Parasitoid fig wasps did not recruit on all available host plants present in the forest census area and suggests an important ecological consequence in mitigating fitness trade-offs between pollinator and Ficus reproduction. The extent to which parasitoid fig wasps exert influence on the pollination mutualism must consider the fitness consequences imposed by the ability to interact with phenotypes of multiple Ficus and fig wasps species, but not equally across space and time.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationMcLeish, M. J., Beukman, G., van Noort, S., & Wossler, T. C. (2012). Host-plant species conservatism and ecology of a parasitoid fig wasp genus (Chalcidoidea; Sycoryctinae; Arachonia). <i>PLoS One</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15362en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMcLeish, Michael J, Gary Beukman, Simon van Noort, and Theresa C Wossler "Host-plant species conservatism and ecology of a parasitoid fig wasp genus (Chalcidoidea; Sycoryctinae; Arachonia)." <i>PLoS One</i> (2012) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15362en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMcLeish, M. J., Beukman, G., van Noort, S., & Wossler, T. C. (2012). Host-plant species conservatism and ecology of a parasitoid fig wasp genus (Chalcidoidea; Sycoryctinae; Arachonia). PloS one, 7(9), e44804. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0044804en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - McLeish, Michael J AU - Beukman, Gary AU - van Noort, Simon AU - Wossler, Theresa C AB - Parasitoid diversity in terrestrial ecosystems is enormous. However, ecological processes underpinning their evolutionary diversification in association with other trophic groups are still unclear. Specialisation and interdependencies among chalcid wasps that reproduce on Ficus presents an opportunity to investigate the ecology of a multi-trophic system that includes parasitoids. Here we estimate the host-plant species specificity of a parasitoid fig wasp genus that attacks the galls of non-pollinating pteromalid and pollinating agaonid fig wasps. We discuss the interactions between parasitoids and the Ficus species present in a forest patch of Uganda in context with populations in Southern Africa. Haplotype networks are inferred to examine intraspecific mitochondrial DNA divergences and phylogenetic approaches used to infer putative species relationships. Taxonomic appraisal and putative species delimitation by molecular and morphological techniques are compared. Results demonstrate that a parasitoid fig wasp population is able to reproduce on at least four Ficus species present in a patch. This suggests that parasitoid fig wasps have relatively broad host- Ficus species ranges compared to fig wasps that oviposit internally. Parasitoid fig wasps did not recruit on all available host plants present in the forest census area and suggests an important ecological consequence in mitigating fitness trade-offs between pollinator and Ficus reproduction. The extent to which parasitoid fig wasps exert influence on the pollination mutualism must consider the fitness consequences imposed by the ability to interact with phenotypes of multiple Ficus and fig wasps species, but not equally across space and time. DA - 2012 DB - OpenUCT DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0044804 DP - University of Cape Town J1 - PLoS One LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2012 T1 - Host-plant species conservatism and ecology of a parasitoid fig wasp genus (Chalcidoidea; Sycoryctinae; Arachonia) TI - Host-plant species conservatism and ecology of a parasitoid fig wasp genus (Chalcidoidea; Sycoryctinae; Arachonia) UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15362 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/15362
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0044804
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMcLeish MJ, Beukman G, van Noort S, Wossler TC. Host-plant species conservatism and ecology of a parasitoid fig wasp genus (Chalcidoidea; Sycoryctinae; Arachonia). PLoS One. 2012; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15362.en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisherPublic Library of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.rightsThis is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.en_ZA
dc.rights.holder© McLeish et alen_ZA
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0en_ZA
dc.sourcePLoS Oneen_ZA
dc.source.urihttp://journals.plos.org/plosoneen_ZA
dc.subject.otherFicusen_ZA
dc.subject.otherHaplotypesen_ZA
dc.subject.otherForestsen_ZA
dc.subject.otherPhylogenetic analysisen_ZA
dc.subject.otherPhylogeneticsen_ZA
dc.subject.otherTreesen_ZA
dc.subject.otherParasitismen_ZA
dc.subject.otherParasite evolutionen_ZA
dc.titleHost-plant species conservatism and ecology of a parasitoid fig wasp genus (Chalcidoidea; Sycoryctinae; Arachonia)en_ZA
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
McLeish_Host_plant_species_2012.pdf
Size:
685.42 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Journal Articles