scholarly journals Spatial Stratification of Internally and Externally Non-Pollinating Fig Wasps and Their Effects on Pollinator and Seed Abundance in Ficus burkei

ISRN Zoology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Al-Beidh ◽  
Derek W. Dunn ◽  
James M. Cook
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Pattern ◽  
Seed Production ◽  
Seed Predation ◽  
Free Space ◽  
Parasitic Wasps ◽  
Fig Wasps ◽  
Pollinator Abundance ◽  
Enemy Free Space ◽  
Fig Trees ◽  
Spatial Stratification

Fig trees (Ficus spp.) are pollinated by tiny wasps that enter their enclosed inflorescences (syconia). The wasp larvae also consume some fig ovules, which negatively affects seed production. Within syconia, pollinator larvae mature mostly in the inner ovules whereas seeds develop mostly in outer ovules—a stratification pattern that enables mutualism persistence. Pollinators may prefer inner ovules because they provide enemy-free space from externally ovipositing parasitic wasps. In some Australasian Ficus, this results in spatial segregation of pollinator and parasite offspring within syconia, with parasites occurring in shorter ovules than pollinators. Australian figs lack non-pollinating fig wasps (NPFW) that enter syconia to oviposit, but these occur in Africa and Asia, and may affect mutualist reproduction via parasitism or seed predation. We studied the African fig, F. burkei, and found a similar general spatial pattern of pollinators and NPFWs within syconia as in Australasian figs. However, larvae of the NPFW Philocaenus barbarus, which enters syconia, occurred in inner ovules. Philocaenus barbarus reduced pollinator abundance but not seed production, because its larvae replaced pollinators in their favoured inner ovules. Our data support a widespread role for NPFWs in contributing to factors preventing host overexploitation in fig-pollinator mutualisms.

A Host Creates an Enemy-free Space for Mistletoes by Reducing Seed Predation Caused by a Woodboring Beetle: A Hypothesis

Biotropica ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 260-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo F. Fadini ◽  
Ana Mellado ◽  
Leidielly P. Ghizoni
Keyword(s):  
Seed Predation ◽  
Free Space ◽  
Enemy Free Space

Enemy-Free Space for Parasitoids

2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 1465-1474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon M. Murphy ◽  
John T. Lill ◽  
M. Deane Bowers ◽  
Michael S. Singer
Keyword(s):  
Free Space ◽  
Enemy Free Space

Direct and indirect effects of herbivores influencing plant invasions.

2020 ◽  
pp. 226-240
Author(s):  
Peter M. Kotanen
Keyword(s):  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Free Space ◽  
Native Plants ◽  
Plant Invasions ◽  
Evolutionary Change ◽  
Range Shifts ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Direct And Indirect Effects ◽  
Enemy Free Space ◽  
New Distribution

Abstract Non-native plants rarely escape damage by herbivores. Instead, upon arrival in a new region, they begin to acquire new enemies, replacing those they have lost during their migration. These herbivores can include both natives to the new region and species that have themselves been accidentally or deliberately introduced from elsewhere, potentially including examples originating from the invader's original range. Shifts of new enemies from other hosts can occur over a range of timescales, depending in part on whether evolutionary change is required, but are likely to be faster for plants that are widespread and phylogenetically related to a herbivore's original host, and faster for generalist herbivores than for specialists. The occurrence of herbivores is not necessarily uniform across an invader's range; instead, they may be less diverse or abundant in host populations that are geographically or ecologically marginal, though existing evidence is mixed. Collectively, these new suites of herbivores can affect the growth and fitness of invaders, both directly by damaging them and indirectly by attacking their competitors. Studies comparing the demographic consequences of herbivory for successful vs unsuccessful invaders may help to clarify how often such impacts limit invasiveness. The view that an invader enters 'enemy-free' space is inaccurate; instead, persistence and spread of non-native plants often may be affected by the novel and changing assemblage of herbivores that they acquire within their new distribution.

Direct and indirect effects of herbivores influencing plant invasions.

2020 ◽  
pp. 226-240
Author(s):  
Peter M. Kotanen ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Free Space ◽  
Native Plants ◽  
Plant Invasions ◽  
Evolutionary Change ◽  
Range Shifts ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Direct And Indirect Effects ◽  
Enemy Free Space ◽  
New Distribution

Non-native plants rarely escape damage by herbivores. Instead, upon arrival in a new region, they begin to acquire new enemies, replacing those they have lost during their migration. These herbivores can include both natives to the new region and species that have themselves been accidentally or deliberately introduced from elsewhere, potentially including examples originating from the invader's original range. Shifts of new enemies from other hosts can occur over a range of timescales, depending in part on whether evolutionary change is required, but are likely to be faster for plants that are widespread and phylogenetically related to a herbivore's original host, and faster for generalist herbivores than for specialists. The occurrence of herbivores is not necessarily uniform across an invader's range; instead, they may be less diverse or abundant in host populations that are geographically or ecologically marginal, though existing evidence is mixed. Collectively, these new suites of herbivores can affect the growth and fitness of invaders, both directly by damaging them and indirectly by attacking their competitors. Studies comparing the demographic consequences of herbivory for successful vs unsuccessful invaders may help to clarify how often such impacts limit invasiveness. The view that an invader enters 'enemy-free' space is inaccurate; instead, persistence and spread of non-native plants often may be affected by the novel and changing assemblage of herbivores that they acquire within their new distribution.

scholarly journals Changing Host Plants Causes Structural Differences in the Parasitoid Complex of the Monophagous Moth Yponomeuta evonymella, but Does Not Improve Survival Rate

Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Łukowski ◽  
Janek ◽  
Baraniak ◽  
Walczak ◽  
Karolewski
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Free Space ◽  
Total Mortality ◽  
Larval Rearing ◽  
Primary Host ◽  
New Host ◽  
Parasitoid Complex ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Enemy Free Space

Recently in Poland, cases of host expansion have frequently been observed in the typically monophagous bird-cherry ermine moth (Yponomeuta evonymella), which has moved from its native host plant, bird cherry (Prunus padus), to a new, widely distributed plant that is invasive in Europe, black cherry (P. serotina). We attempted to verify the reasons behind this host change in the context of the enemy-free space hypothesis by focusing on parasitoids attacking larval Y. evonymella on one of three host plant variants: The primary host, P. padus; initially P. padus and later P. serotina (P. padus/P. serotina); or the new host, P. serotina. This experiment investigated if changing the host plant could be beneficial to Y. evonymella in terms of escaping from harmful parasitoids and improving survival rate. We identified nine species of parasitoids that attack larval Y. evonymella, and we found that the number of parasitoid species showed a downward trend from the primary host plant to the P. padus/P. serotina combination to the new host plant alone. We observed a significant difference among variants in relation to the percentage of cocoons killed by specific parasitoids, but no effects of non-specific parasitoids or other factors. Total mortality did not significantly differ (ca. 37%) among larval rearing variants. Changing the host plant caused differences in the structure of the parasitoid complex of Y. evonymella but did not improve its survival rate. This study does not indicate that the host expansion of Y. evonymella is associated with the enemy-free space hypothesis; we therefore discuss alternative scenarios that may be more likely.

Delimitation and description of the immature stages of a pollinating fig wasp, Ceratosolen solmsi marchali Mayr (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae)

2013 ◽  
Vol 104 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ling-Yi Jia ◽  
Jin-Hua Xiao ◽  
Li-Ming Niu ◽  
Guang-Chang Ma ◽  
Yue-Guan Fu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Model System ◽  
Immature Stages ◽  
Fig Wasp ◽  
Fig Wasps ◽  
Prepupal Stage ◽  
Behavioral Observations ◽  
Ficus Hispida ◽  
Fig Trees ◽  
Developmental Traits

AbstractThe mutualism between fig trees and their wasp pollinators is a model system for many ecological and evolutionary studies. However, the immature stages of pollinating fig wasps have rarely been studied. We monitored developing fig wasps of known ages and performed a series of dissections at 24 h intervals to identify key developmental traits of Ceratosolen solmsi marchali Mayr (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae), a pollinator of Ficus hispida L. (Moraceae). We identified where in the Ficus ovary eggs were deposited and time to hatch. We were also able to identify the timing and key underlying characters of five larval instars, three sub-pupal stages, and a single prepupal stage. We provide detailed morphological descriptions for the key stages and report some behavioral observations of the wasps in the several developmental stages we recorded. Scanning electron microscope images were taken.

Lycaenid Butterflies and Ants: Selection for Enemy-Free Space

1981 ◽  
Vol 118 (5) ◽  
pp. 638-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter R. Atsatt
Keyword(s):  
Free Space ◽  
Enemy Free Space ◽  
Selection For

Defensive Strategies of a Noctuid Caterpillar in a Myrmecophytic Plant: are Dyops Larvae Immune to Azteca Ants?

Sociobiology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 397
Author(s):  
Renato Rogner Ramos ◽  
André Victor Lucci Freitas ◽  
Ronaldo Bastos Francini
Keyword(s):  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Free Space ◽  
The Body ◽  
Immature Stages ◽  
Anterior Portion ◽  
Leaf Curling ◽  
Defensive Strategies ◽  
Noctuid Moth ◽  
Oral Fluids ◽  
Enemy Free Space

Immature stages of insects are generally susceptive to their natural enemies, but many species developed defensive and evasive mechanisms to circumvent predation. Gregarious larvae of the noctuid moth Dyops cf. cuprescens feed on leaves of young Cecropia pachystachya shrubs colonized by Azteca ants. Ants avoid contact with larval clusters, retreating to the nest when larvae are moving near the stems. Provoked encounters revealed that Dyops caterpillars present several specialized behaviors to avoid and overcome ant attacks, such as fleeing to under leaf, jumping off the leaf, curling and wriggling vigorously the anterior portion of the body, spitting droplets of oral fluids, or killing ants by pouncing them. These mechanisms allow the caterpillars to overcome ant attacks and consume leaves of ant-colonized plants. By feeding on a heavily protected plant, larvae can enjoy not only a competitor-free plant, but possibly also the enemy-free space created by the aggressive ants.

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