Figs (Moracea: Ficus) and fig wasps (Hymenoptera: Chlocloids: Agaonideae) depend on each other to complete their reproduction. Monoecious fig species and their pollinating wasps are in conflict over the use of fig ov...Figs (Moracea: Ficus) and fig wasps (Hymenoptera: Chlocloids: Agaonideae) depend on each other to complete their reproduction. Monoecious fig species and their pollinating wasps are in conflict over the use of fig ovaries which can either produce one seed or one wasp. From observation on Ficus virens Ait., we showed that female flowers with outer layer of ovaries (near to the wall of syconium) had no significant difference from that with inner and interval layer of ovaries (near to the syconium cavity), in which most seeds and wasps were produced. This meant that fig tree provided the same potential resource for seed and wasps production. Observation indicated that there was usually only one foundress in syconium at female flower phase and no com- petition pollinators. Measurement of the style length of female flowers and the ovipositor of pollinators indicated that most ovaries could be reached by pollinator’s ovipositor. However, at the male flower phase, production of seeds was significantly more than that of wasps including non-pollinating wasps but there was no significant difference between seed and pollinating wasp production when without non-pollinating wasps produced. This result indicated that non-pollinating wasps competed ovaries not with seeds but with pollinating wasps for ovipositing. Bagged experiment showed that the sampling fig species was not self-sterile which was important for figs and wasps to survive bad season. Seed production in self-pollinated figs was not significantly different from total wasps in- cluding non-pollinating ones. This might be related with the weaker competition among wasps since bagged figs were not easy to reach by wasps from outside.展开更多
The phenology of figs （Ficus spp. Moraceae） is being monitored in the dry forests of Mudumalai, southern India and individuals belonging to the genus are marked with unique tag numbers and their vegetative and repro...The phenology of figs （Ficus spp. Moraceae） is being monitored in the dry forests of Mudumalai, southern India and individuals belonging to the genus are marked with unique tag numbers and their vegetative and reproductive phenologies have been monitored since August 2000 on a monthly basis. The influence of abiotic factors on fig phenology and the differences between fig and non- fig phenologies are being examined. The seasonality of different phenophases of fig phenology is also being examined. The maximum intensity of leaf flush occurred in drier months. Fig and non-fig species showed significant differences with expansion and senescence phenophases of leafing. Flowering also occurred in drier months. There were significant differences between fig and non-fig species with reproductive phenophases. As with non-fig species, leafing was influenced by maximum temperatures. Both vegetative and reproductive phenophases were significantly seasonal.展开更多
基金Supported by the Knowledge Innovation Research Program,Chinese Academy of Sciences (KSCX2-SW-105)
文摘Figs (Moracea: Ficus) and fig wasps (Hymenoptera: Chlocloids: Agaonideae) depend on each other to complete their reproduction. Monoecious fig species and their pollinating wasps are in conflict over the use of fig ovaries which can either produce one seed or one wasp. From observation on Ficus virens Ait., we showed that female flowers with outer layer of ovaries (near to the wall of syconium) had no significant difference from that with inner and interval layer of ovaries (near to the syconium cavity), in which most seeds and wasps were produced. This meant that fig tree provided the same potential resource for seed and wasps production. Observation indicated that there was usually only one foundress in syconium at female flower phase and no com- petition pollinators. Measurement of the style length of female flowers and the ovipositor of pollinators indicated that most ovaries could be reached by pollinator’s ovipositor. However, at the male flower phase, production of seeds was significantly more than that of wasps including non-pollinating wasps but there was no significant difference between seed and pollinating wasp production when without non-pollinating wasps produced. This result indicated that non-pollinating wasps competed ovaries not with seeds but with pollinating wasps for ovipositing. Bagged experiment showed that the sampling fig species was not self-sterile which was important for figs and wasps to survive bad season. Seed production in self-pollinated figs was not significantly different from total wasps in- cluding non-pollinating ones. This might be related with the weaker competition among wasps since bagged figs were not easy to reach by wasps from outside.
基金funded by the Ministry of Environment,Forests and Climate Change(MOEFCC)Government of India under an umbrella grant to Centre for Ecological Sciences,Indian Institute of Science
文摘The phenology of figs （Ficus spp. Moraceae） is being monitored in the dry forests of Mudumalai, southern India and individuals belonging to the genus are marked with unique tag numbers and their vegetative and reproductive phenologies have been monitored since August 2000 on a monthly basis. The influence of abiotic factors on fig phenology and the differences between fig and non- fig phenologies are being examined. The seasonality of different phenophases of fig phenology is also being examined. The maximum intensity of leaf flush occurred in drier months. Fig and non-fig species showed significant differences with expansion and senescence phenophases of leafing. Flowering also occurred in drier months. There were significant differences between fig and non-fig species with reproductive phenophases. As with non-fig species, leafing was influenced by maximum temperatures. Both vegetative and reproductive phenophases were significantly seasonal.
