Pollen waste and unrelated traits in fig-fig wasp symbiosis: a new behaviour duggesting a host shift

Georges Michaloud (1) , Nathalie Bossu-Dupriez , Malia Chevolot , Christelle Lasbleiz

1 UMR AMAP - Botanique et Modélisation de l'Architecture des Plantes et des Végétations

In a fig–fig wasp symbiosis, we have discovered that male fig pollinators (Alfonsiella fimbriata Waterston) bite into the dehiscent anthers of Ficus natalensis leprieuri Miq., thus scattering the pollen grains throughout the syconium. Female pollinators are the only ones to transfer pollen to conspecific trees, and collect pollen actively from the anthers only. Thus, this male behaviour appears to be antagonistic to the pollination process. We compare different wasp pollinating behaviours between fig species exhibiting dehiscent and non-dehiscent anthers and conclude that this male behaviour is new and not required with spontaneously dehiscent anthers. These findings could suggest a host shift of Alfonsiella fimbriata

Mots clés: Symbiose; Co-évolution; Ficus; Pollinisateur; Afrique; Pollinisation

Domaines: Evolution [q-bio.PE]

Georges Michaloud, Nathalie Bossu-Dupriez, Malia Chevolot, Christelle Lasbleiz. Pollen waste and unrelated traits in fig-fig wasp symbiosis: a new behaviour duggesting a host shift. Comptes Rendus Biologies, 2005, 328, pp.81-87. ⟨10.1016/j.crvi.2004.11.002⟩. ⟨hal-00012551⟩