Brood size: a major factor influencing male dimorphism in the non-pollinating fig wasp Sycobia sp.

Authors: NIU, LI-MING; HU, HAO-YUAN; HUANG, DA-WEI; FU, YUE-GUAN; PENG, ZHENG-QIANG

Source: Ecological Entomology, Volume 34, Number 6, December 2009 , pp. 696-701(6)

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Abstract:

• Male polymorphisms have been described in some non-pollinating fig wasps, as well as in other animals. The proximal basis and the maintenance of alternative male reproductive strategies are either genetic or environmental.

• Here we studied male dimorphism in the non-pollinating fig wasp Sycobia sp. We conducted experimental manipulations to study the factors influencing offspring male morph allocations and explore a possible basis for the determination and maintenance of male dimorphism in Sycobia sp.

• The results showed that brood size was the major and underlying factor influencing the male morph ratio. When the brood size increases, the wingless male ratio also increases.

• Also, our results indicated that there was no direct maternal control on offspring male morph allocation.

• Male dimorphism in Sycobia sp. probably represents an environmentally determined conditional strategy, which responded to offspring population density at the level of the individual fig.

Keywords: Alternative reproductive tactics; brood size; conditional strategy; male dimorphism; non-pollinating fig wasp

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2311.2009.01123.x

Publication date: 2009-12-01