ISSN:
1432-1939
Keywords:
Agaonidae
;
Cospeciation
;
Figs
;
Ficus
;
Galls
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Summary We investigated the species richness of 24 fig wasp (Hymenoptera) assemblages associated with southern African fig trees (Ficus species, Moraceae). Assemblage sizes ranged between 3 and 30 species on different host tree species, with parasitoids slightly outnumbering gall-forming phytophages. Ten potential taxonomic, geographic and ecological determinants of assemblage richness were examined. Galler richness differed significantly between taxonomic sub-groups of Ficus and was significantly correlated with several ecological characteristics of the host trees, but there was no species-area effect. Parasitoid richness was strongly correlated with galler richness. We conclude that both ecological and historical factors have combined to determine the numbers of species that form fig wasp assemblages.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00317243
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