Article
Plant Sciences
Wen-Hsuan Chen, Anthony Bain, Sheng-Yang Wang, Yi-Chiao Ho, Hsy-Yu Tzeng
Summary: The vegetative and reproductive growth of plants play a crucial role in regulating the interactions within an ecosystem. In the case of plant-insect interactions, plants use visual and chemical cues to signal their reproductive period. Ficus mutualism, however, relies solely on chemical cues for the figs to attract pollinating wasps. This study examines the phenological pattern and volatile compound emissions of Ficus septica in Central Taiwan. The results show that the fig species displays continuous growth throughout the year, with a decrease in winter. The emissions of odor blends from male and female trees are similar, but with seasonal variations, and are influenced by the size of the wasp population.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ting Zhang, K. Charlotte Jander, Jian-Feng Huang, Bo Wang, Jiang-Bo Zhao, Bai-Ge Miao, Yan-Qiong Peng, Edward Allen Herre
Summary: This study examined two functionally distinct Eupristina wasp species associated with Ficus microcarpa in Yunnan Province, China, revealing one as a competent pollinator and the other as a parasitic species dramatically impacting the reproductive success of its host. The parasitic species displayed greater relative fitness in competitions with the pollinators, and phylogenetic analyses suggested their sister taxon relationship. Unlike existing studies, this research found no evidence of host sanctions affecting the reproductive success of nonpollinating wasps, likely promoting the evolution of cheating.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Lianfu Chen, Simon T. Segar, Bhanumas Chantarasuwan, Da-Mien Wong, Rong Wang, Xiaoyong Chen, Hui Yu
Summary: Research on fig wasps has contributed significantly to understanding insect-plant interactions, but the molecular mechanisms of fig wasp host specificity remain poorly understood. This study presents a large-scale transcriptomic dataset of 25 fig wasp species, revealing potential genetic mechanisms underlying specific host adaptation. The findings shed light on the evolutionary diversification and host specificity of fig wasps, and contribute to the growing dataset on fig wasp genomics.
Article
Mathematics, Interdisciplinary Applications
Lin Wang, Rui-Wu Wang
Summary: Research using mathematical models and field data has discovered chaotic behavior in mutualistic systems, suggesting that host regulation and environmental variation together can lead to population chaos.
CHAOS SOLITONS & FRACTALS
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Po-An Chou, Anthony Bain, Bhanumas Chantarasuwan, Hsy-Yu Tzeng
Summary: Non-pollinating fig wasps (NPFWs), especially the long-ovipositored Sycoryctina wasps, have a high species specificity and complex ecological effects on the mutualism between Ficus and pollinating fig wasps. Apocrypta, a genus of NPFWs, interacts mostly with Ficus under the subgenus Sycomorus, but a unique symbiosis case between Apocrypta and F. pedunculosa var. mearnsii, a Ficus species under subgenus Ficus, was observed. We investigated the parasitism features of the Apocrypta wasp associated with F. pedunculosa var. mearnsii compared to other congeneric species and found that it exhibited a higher parasitism ability but a lower parasitism rate, possibly due to its oviposition strategy and the severe habitat conditions. These findings contribute to the understanding of the fig tree-fig wasp interaction mechanism.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Lianfu Chen, Chao Feng, Rong Wang, Xiaojue Nong, Xiaoxia Deng, Xiaoyong Chen, Hui Yu
Summary: This study presents a high-quality chromosome-level genome for the fig wasp Valisa javana using PacBio long-read and Illumina short-read sequencing. The genome assembly revealed expanded and positively selected genes associated with the fig wasp's ability to live in its specific host. Additionally, differentially expressed genes involved in olfactory signal transduction pathways were identified. This study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the fig wasp's adaptive traits and co-speciation with its host.
Article
Ecology
Lisette van Kolfschoten, Lovisa Duck, Martin Lind, K. Charlotte Jander
Summary: Pollinating insects are decreasing worldwide, which is affecting plants that rely on them for fruit production. The projected temperature increases may severely affect plants that rely on insect pollinators, especially in highly specialized mutualisms. In the mutualism between fig trees and fig wasps, increasing temperatures decrease fig wasp lifespan, which could jeopardize fruit set and survival of the mutualism.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Joao Vitor S. Messeder, Fernando A. O. Silveira, Tatiana G. Cornelissen, Lisieux F. Fuzessy, Tadeu J. Guerra
Summary: The study focused on the role of Miconia, a hyperdiverse plant clade in the Neotropics, in seed dispersal through interactions with a diverse range of animal frugivores. The results highlighted the key role of Miconia in facilitating seed dispersal in the Neotropics by providing fruits accessible to a wide range of animal vectors, sustaining entire frugivore assemblages.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gang Wang, Xingtan Zhang, Edward Allen Herre, Doyle McKey, Carlos A. Machado, Wen-Bin Yu, Charles H. Cannon, Michael L. Arnold, Rodrigo A. S. Pereira, Ray Ming, Yi-Fei Liu, Yibin Wang, Dongna Ma, Jin Chen
Summary: The study reveals the frequent host-switching and fig hybridization events between figs and their agaonid wasp pollinators, which are a dominant feature of their coevolutionary history and likely contribute to the remarkable diversity exhibited by this mutualism.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Da-Mien Wong, Songle Fan, Hui Yu
Summary: Seven new non-pollinating fig wasp species associated with Ficus hirta fig trees in South China and Southeast Asia are reported in this study. These species belong to different genera and can be distinguished by their unique morphological features. An identification key is provided, and the relationships with their host fig trees are discussed.
Article
Plant Sciences
Bai-Ge Miao, Ming-Xin Liu, Bo Wang, Yan-Qiong Peng, Annick Lesne, Finn Kjellberg, K. Charlotte Jander
Summary: Active pollination has evolved four times in brood site pollination mutualisms. In male figs, the wasp inserts its ovipositor into the flower and deposits a pollen grain on the hypopygium, resulting in flower pollination and insect oviposition. In female figs, the wasp's pollination behavior occurs less frequently but lasts longer, ensuring efficient ovule fertilization.
Article
Ecology
Manu E. E. Saunders, Liam K. K. Kendall, Jose B. B. Lanuza, Mark A. A. Hall, Romina Rader, Jamie R. R. Stavert
Summary: Understanding how climate influences plant-pollinator interactions is crucial. This study found that climate strongly affects the roles of different pollinator taxa within networks, with non-bee taxa playing central roles across most climate zones.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Serhan Mermer, Erika A. A. Maslen, Daniel T. T. Dalton, Anne L. L. Nielsen, Ann Rucker, David Lowenstein, Nik Wiman, Mukesh Bhattarai, Alexander Soohoo-Hui, Edwin T. T. Harris, Ferdinand Pfab, Vaughn M. M. Walton
Summary: This study described the temperature dependent life-table parameters of the brown marmorated stink bug and compared them with previous data. By determining the developmental thresholds and optimal temperatures, the findings can help in predicting the timing of pest occurrence and achieving successful control.
Article
Biology
Stefan Abrahamczyk, Jan-Hendrik Struck, Maximilian Weigend
Summary: Ambophily, the mixed mode of wind and insect pollination, has been studied for over 130 years, but still lacks understanding. Experimental data on ambophily are rare, and the morphological and ecological characteristics of ambophilous plants and their evolution are uncertain. In this review, we summarize and evaluate the current understanding of ambophily based on experimental studies. Ambophilous species have evolved from both wind- and insect-pollinated ancestors, with traits overlapping with small generalist insect-pollinated species. Ecological factors such as pollen limitation, self-pollination, flower interference, and population density promote the evolution of ambophily. Experimental studies, observations of floral traits, and phylogenies suggest that ambophily may have evolutionary stability in some clades.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Zuzanna M. Filipiak, Jeff Ollerton, Michal Filipiak
Summary: Bees play a crucial role in ecosystems and face global threats, but our understanding of their ecology and evolution is limited. This article discusses the impact of the potassium-sodium ratio on bee ecology and evolution, and highlights the importance of considering this factor in future studies to gain new knowledge and effectively protect wild bees.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Rong Wang, Robert Aylwin, Louise Barwell, Xiao-Yong Chen, Yan Chen, Lien-Siang Chou, James Cobb, Daniel Collette, Lamara Craine, Robin M. Giblin-Davis, Salah Ghana, Maximilian Harper, Rhett D. Harrison, John R. McPherson, Yan-Qiong Peng, Rodrigo A. S. Pereira, Alfredo Reyes-Betancort, Lillian J. V. Rodriguez, Emily Strange, Simon van Noort, Hui-Wen Yang, Hui Yu, Stephen G. Compton
INSECT CONSERVATION AND DIVERSITY
(2015)
Article
Acoustics
Shane Guan, Tzu-Hao Lin, Lien-Siang Chou, Joseph Vignola, John Judge, Diego Turo
JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
(2015)
Article
Acoustics
Tzu-Hao Lin, Lien-Siang Chou
JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
(2015)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Xianyan Wang, Fuxing Wu, Wei-Lun Chang, Wen Hou, Lien-Siang Chou, Qian Zhu
MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE
(2016)
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. -Y. Liu, L. -S. Chou, M. -H. Chen
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2015)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tzu-Hao Lin, Hsin-Yi Yu, Chi-Fang Chen, Lien-Siang Chou
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
I-Hua Chen, Lien-Siang Chou, Shih-Jen Chou, Jiann-Hsiung Wang, Jeffrey Stott, Myra Blanchard, I-Fan Jen, Wei-Cheng Yang
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2015)
Review
Plant Sciences
Anthony Bain, Hsy-Yu Tzeng, Wen-Jer Wu, Lien-Siang Chou
Article
Oceanography
Ching-Wen Pan, Yi-Li Chuang, Lien-Siang Chou, Meng-Hsien Chen, Hsing-Juh Lin
CONTINENTAL SHELF RESEARCH
(2016)
Article
Anthropology
Florence Chan Evacitas, Graham A. J. Worthy, Lien-Siang Chou
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2016)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jer-Yuh Liu, Chun-Chieh Wang, Lien-Siang Chou
JOURNAL OF CRUSTACEAN BIOLOGY
(2016)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nakatada Wachi, Junko Kusumi, Hsy-Yu Tzeng, Zhi-Hui Su
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tzu-Hao Lin, Tomonari Akamatsu, Lien-Siang Chou
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2015)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Lillian Jennifer Rodriguez, Anthony Bain, Lien-Siang Chou, Lucie Conchou, Astrid Cruaud, Regielene Gonzales, Martine Hossaert-McKey, Jean-Yves Rasplus, Hsy-Yu Tzeng, Finn Kjellberg
BMC EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Plant Sciences
Shang-Yang Lin, Bruno Di Giusto, Anthony Bain, Lien-Siang Chou