Compton, SG orcid.org/0000-0002-1247-8058, Chen, X-Y, Chen, Y et al. (9 more authors) (2018) Host-parasitoid relationships within figs of an invasive fig tree: a fig wasp community structured by gall size. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 11 (4). pp. 341-351. ISSN 1752-458X
Abstract
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | (c) 2017, The Royal Entomological Society. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: 'Compton, SG , Chen, X-Y, Chen, Y et al (2018). Host-parasitoid relationships within figs of an invasive fig tree: a fig wasp community structured by gall size. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 11 (4). pp. 341-351,' which has been published in final form at [https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12282]. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving. |
Keywords: | Biocontrol; Ficus; fig wasps; food web; gall size; host range; parasitoid |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Biological Sciences (Leeds) > School of Biology (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 28 Nov 2018 11:26 |
Last Modified: | 21 Dec 2018 01:39 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/icad.12282 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:139055 |