Replication Data for Ecology of a fig ant–plant

This dataset was moved to: https://doi.org/10.34725/DVN/BIKIGGMutualistic interactions are embedded in networks of interactions that affect the benefits accruing to the mutualistic partners. Figs and their pollinating wasps are engaged in an obligate mutualism in which the fig is dependent on the fig pollinator for pollination services and the pollinator is dependent on fig ovules for brood sites. This mutualism is exploited by non-pollinating fig wasps that utilise the same ovules, but do not provide a pollination service. Most non-pollinating wasps oviposit from outside the inflorescence (syconium), where they are vulnerable to ant predation. Ficus schwarzii is exposed to high densities of non-pollinating wasps, but Philidris sp. ants patrolling the syconia prevent them from ovipositing. Philidris rarely catch wasps, but the fig encourages the patrolling by providing a reward through extra-floral nectaries on the surface of syconia. Moreover, the reward is apparently only produced during the phase when parasitoids are ovipositing. An ant-exclusion experiment demonstrated that, in the absence of ants, syconia were heavily attacked and many aborted as a consequence. Philidris was normally rare on the figs during the receptive phase or at the time of day when wasp offspring are emerging, so predation on pollinators was limited. However, Myrmicaria sp. ants, which only occurred on three trees, preyed substantially on pollinating as well as non-pollinating wasps. F. schwarzii occurs in small clusters of trees and has an exceptionally rapid crop turnover. These factors appear to promote high densities of non-pollinating wasps and, as a consequence, may have led to both a high incidence of ants on trees and increased selective pressure on fig traits that increase the payoffs of the fig–ant interaction for the fig. The fig receives no direct benefit from the reward it provides, but protects pollinating wasps that will disperse its pollen.本数据集已迁移至：https://doi.org/10.34725/DVN/BIKIGG 互利共生相互作用（mutualistic interactions）嵌入于各类相互作用网络中，此类网络会影响互利共生伙伴所获得的收益。榕属植物与其传粉榕小蜂（pollinating wasps）形成专性互利共生（obligate mutualism）：榕果依赖传粉榕小蜂提供传粉服务，而传粉榕小蜂则依赖榕果胚珠（fig ovules）作为育幼场所（brood sites）。该共生体系会被非传粉榕小蜂（non-pollinating fig wasps）利用，这类昆虫会窃取相同的榕果胚珠，但不提供传粉服务。多数非传粉榕小蜂从隐头花序（syconium）外部产卵，此时它们易遭受蚂蚁捕食（ant predation）。施瓦茨榕（Ficus schwarzii）会接触到高密度的非传粉榕小蜂，但巡逻于隐头花序的铺道蚁属（Philidris sp.）蚂蚁可阻止其产卵。铺道蚁极少直接捕杀榕小蜂，但该榕树通过隐头花序表面的花外蜜腺（extra-floral nectaries）提供奖励，以吸引蚂蚁巡逻。此外，该奖励似乎仅在寄生蜂（parasitoids）产卵阶段产生。蚂蚁排除实验（ant-exclusion experiment）证实，在无蚂蚁的情况下，隐头花序会遭受严重侵害，最终大量败育脱落。在receptive期（receptive phase）或榕小蜂子代羽化时段，铺道蚁通常极少出现在榕树上，因此对传粉榕小蜂的捕食压力有限。不过仅在3棵树上发现的巨首蚁属（Myrmicaria sp.）蚂蚁，会大量捕食传粉榕小蜂与非传粉榕小蜂。施瓦茨榕以小簇状分布，且果实周转速率（crop turnover）极快。这些因素似乎推动了非传粉榕小蜂的高密度种群，进而促使树上蚂蚁的出现率升高，并对榕属植物的性状形成了更强的选择压力——这些性状可提升榕-蚁共生关系中榕属植物的收益。该榕树虽无法从提供的奖励中直接获益，但可借此保护负责传播其花粉的传粉榕小蜂。