Inflorescence size predicts host-symbiont conflict in monoecious fig-wasp mutualisms

In monoecious fig-wasp mutualisms (Ficus; ~350 spp.), tiny wasps obligately pollinate fig-tree inflorescences (‘figs’). Although pollination enables seed production wasp symbionts also oviposit into flowers, replacing potential seeds with wasp offspring. Consistently across Ficus, ~40-60% of developed flowers produce seeds. Although several processes are likely involved, a general explanation for why wasps do not exploit more flowers has been elusive. However, inter-specific scaling between host-symbiont reproductive traits suggests that as figs become larger across Ficus, the increase in wasp-eggs-per pollen-receptive fig will fail to match the increase in flower numbers. The potential for wasps to exploit hosts should thus decline due to an increasing excess of flowers. We tested these predictions, which were upheld, using data from 23 fig-wasp mutualisms from four continents. As fig size increases across Ficus, wasp egg-to-flower ratios, a measure of host-symbiont conflict-..., Methods are detailed in the published paper., , # Inflorescence size predicts host-symbiont conflict in monoecious fig-wasp mutualisms

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.547d7wmjw](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.547d7wmjw)

## Description of the data and file structure

For all data sheets, please also refer to the Supplementary Methods. This gives details of data used in the publication that were obtained from literature sources.

**Head-width_all**

* **Fig species** – Ficus species to which the wasp species is associated
* **Location** – sampling location (see Table S1).
* **Headwmm** – headwidth in millimeters (see Supplementary Methods).

**Flowers_all**

*  **Fig species** – Ficus spcies from which flowers were counted

-  **Locality** – sampling location (see Table S1).

*  **Flowers** – number of flowers within a fig (see Supplementary Methods).

NB – for F. insipda, F. yoponensis, F. paraensis, F. burkei, F. burt-davyi, F. sur and F. racemosa, data were obtained from literature sources, which are given here. References are provi...