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(Reference retrieved automatically from SciELO through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Effect of local mate competition on fig wasp sex ratios

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Author(s):
R. A. S. Pereira [1] ; A. P. Prado [2]
Total Authors: 2
Affiliation:
[1] Universidade de São Paulo. FFCLRP. Departamento de Biologia - Brasil
[2] Unicamp. Departamento de Parasitologia - Brasil
Total Affiliations: 2
Document type: Journal article
Source: Brazilian Journal of Biology; v. 66, p. 603-610, 2006-05-00.
Abstract

In fig wasps, mating takes place among the offspring of one or a few foundress mothers inside the fig from which mated females disperse to found new broods. Under these conditions, related males will compete with each other for mating and several studies have shown female bias in brood sex ratios as a response to Local Mate Competition (LMC). Studying Pegoscapus tonduzi which pollinates Ficus citrifolia in Brazil, we analysed the effect of LMC (number of foundresses) on the sex ratio of the offspring of pollinating wasps. The relationship between the foundress number and brood sex ratio qualitatively followed the theory, however the empirical sex ratio was more female biased than expected from theoretical values. The model for an optimal sex ratio considers that each foundress wasp contributes the same number of eggs to be bred and that the violation of this assumption may explain the lack of adjustment in relation to the theory. (AU)