Resource dispersion influences dispersal evolution of highly insulated insect communities

Communities in which species are obligately associated with a single host plant are ideal to test adaptive responses of community traits to selection since such communities are often highly insulated. Fig species provide oviposition resources to co-evolved fig-wasp communities. Dispersing fig-wasp communities move from one host plant to another for oviposition. We compared the spatial dispersion of two fig species and the dispersal capacities of their multitrophic wasp communities. Dispersal capacities were assessed by measuring vital dispersal correlates, namely tethered flight durations, somatic lipid contents and resting metabolic rates. We suggest that dispersal-trait distributions of congeneric wasp species across the communities are an adaptive response to host plant dispersion. Larger dispersal capacities of the entire multitrophic community are related to more widely dispersed resources. Our results provide evidence and a novel perspective for understanding the potential role of...专性依附单一宿主植物的群落是检验群落性状对选择的适应性响应的理想实验体系，因此类群落通常具有高度的生态隔离性。无花果物种为协同演化的榕小蜂（fig wasp）群落提供产卵资源。扩散中的榕小蜂群落会从一株宿主植物转移至另一株以完成产卵。本研究比较了两种无花果物种的空间分布格局，以及它们所支撑的多营养级榕小蜂群落的扩散能力。扩散能力通过测量核心扩散相关指标进行评估，具体包括系留飞行时长、体脂含量与静息代谢率。我们提出，跨群落的同属蜂类物种的扩散性状分布，是对宿主植物空间分布格局的适应性响应。整个多营养级群落的更高扩散能力，与分布更为广泛的宿主资源呈显著关联。本研究结果为理解……的潜在作用提供了实证依据与全新视角。