Phylogenetic Relationships of Fig Wasps Pollinating Functionally Dioecious Ficus Based on Mitochondrial DNA Sequences and Morphology

The obligate mutualism between pollinating fig wasps in the family Agaonidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) and Ficus species (Moraceae) is often regarded as an example of coevolution but little is known about the history of the interaction and understanding the origin of functionally dioecious fig pollination has been especially difficult. The phylogenetic relationships of fig wasps pollinating functionally dioecious Ficus were inferred from mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase gene sequences (mtDNA) and morphology. Separate and combined analyses indicated that the pollinators of functionally dioecious figs are not monophyletic. However, pollinator relationships were generally congruent with host phylogeny and support a revised classification of Ficus. Ancestral changes in pollinator ovipositor length were also correlated with changes in fig breeding system. In particular, the relative elongation of the ovipositor was associated with the repeated loss of functionally dioecious pollination. Th...