寄生生物廣泛存在于陸地生態(tài)系統(tǒng)中，是生物多樣性的重要組成部分,。寄生生物的進化多樣化過程與其他營養(yǎng)級生物緊密相關，然而目前對于這一進化和分化的生態(tài)過程仍不清楚,。不同類型榕小蜂之間?；⑾嗷ヒ来娴奶厥怅P系，為研究包括寄生關系在內的多層營養(yǎng)級系統(tǒng)的生態(tài)學提供了絕佳的實驗材料,。
中科院西雙版納熱帶植物園綜合保護中心植物地理組副研究員Michael McLeish與南非斯特倫布什大學,、Iziko南非博物館以及開普敦大學合作，在南非烏干達森林斑塊中研究寄生小蜂與其寄主傳粉小蜂,、非傳粉小蜂間的關系,，從而探討寄生小蜂與其寄主植物物種專一性的問題。該研究利用單倍型網(wǎng)絡檢測種內線粒體DNA分化,，以及系統(tǒng)發(fā)育的方法推斷相應的物種關系,。結果表明，在同一森林斑塊中,，寄生榕小蜂可以在至少四種不同榕樹植物上繁殖,，即相對于在榕果內產卵的榕小蜂來說，在榕果外產卵的寄生小蜂具有更廣泛的寄主植物范圍,。
研究同時發(fā)現(xiàn),，在觀察區(qū)域內，寄生小蜂并沒有在所有可利用的寄主植物上繁殖產卵,，暗示了寄生小蜂對榕屬植物繁殖-傳粉小蜂間權衡關系的調節(jié)作用,。榕小蜂對傳粉共生系統(tǒng)的影響程度必須考慮到榕樹與榕小蜂不同表型相互作用能力所產生的后果，但是不僅僅等同于時間和空間上的差異,。重建不同榕小蜂及其近緣類群在榕果內外產卵這一特征的進化路線,，有助于提出關于榕小蜂功能類群和共生關系進化過程的新假說。
相關研究結果以Host-Plant Species Conservatism and Ecology of a Parasitoid Fig Wasp Genus (Chalcidoidea; Sycoryctinae; Arachonia)為題，發(fā)表在國際期刊PLoS ONE上,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0044804
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PMID:
Host-Plant Species Conservatism and Ecology of a Parasitoid Fig Wasp Genus (Chalcidoidea; Sycoryctinae; Arachonia)
Michael J. McLeish, Gary Beukman, Simon van Noort, Theresa C. Wossler
Parasitoid diversity in terrestrial ecosystems is enormous. However, ecological processes underpinning their evolutionary diversification in association with other trophic groups are still unclear. Specialisation and interdependencies among chalcid wasps that reproduce on Ficus presents an opportunity to investigate the ecology of a multi-trophic system that includes parasitoids. Here we estimate the host-plant species specificity of a parasitoid fig wasp genus that attacks the galls of non-pollinating pteromalid and pollinating agaonid fig wasps. We discuss the interactions between parasitoids and the Ficus species present in a forest patch of Uganda in context with populations in Southern Africa. Haplotype networks are inferred to examine intraspecific mitochondrial DNA divergences and phylogenetic approaches used to infer putative species relationships. Taxonomic appraisal and putative species delimitation by molecular and morphological techniques are compared. Results demonstrate that a parasitoid fig wasp population is able to reproduce on at least four Ficus species present in a patch. This suggests that parasitoid fig wasps have relatively broad host-Ficus species ranges compared to fig wasps that oviposit internally. Parasitoid fig wasps did not recruit on all available host plants present in the forest census area and suggests an important ecological consequence in mitigating fitness trade-offs between pollinator and Ficus reproduction. The extent to which parasitoid fig wasps exert influence on the pollination mutualism must consider the fitness consequences imposed by the ability to interact with phenotypes of multiple Ficus and fig wasps species, but not equally across space and time.
