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Fighting strategies in two species of fig wasp

Moore, J. C., Obbard, D. J., Reuter, C., West, S. A. and Cook, J. M. (2008) Fighting strategies in two species of fig wasp. Animal Behaviour, 76. pp. 315-322. ISSN 0003-3472

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To link to this item DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2008.01.018

Abstract/Summary

Although theory exists concerning the types of strategies that should be used in contests over resources, empirical work explicitly testing its predictions is relatively rare. We investigated male fighting strategies in two nonpollinating. g wasp species associated with Ficus rubiginosa figs. In Sycoscapter sp. A, males did not assess each other before or during fights over mating opportunities. Instead,fights continued until the loser reached an energetic cost threshold that was positively correlated with its body size (fighting ability) and retreated. In Philotrypesis sp. B, pre fight assessment was indicated, with males attacking competitively inferior rivals to remove them from the competitor pool ( they then continued to do so until they reached a cost threshold that was again positively correlated with body size). Using data on species ecology, we discuss our findings with respect to theory on when different fighting strategies should evolve. We argue that the type of strategy used by a. g wasp species is determined by its relative benefits in terms of inclusive fitness. (c) 2008 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Item Type:Article
Refereed:Yes
Divisions:Life Sciences > School of Biological Sciences
ID Code:9855
Uncontrolled Keywords:ficus, fig wasp, fighting strategy, opponent assessment, Philotrypesis, Sycoscapter, CONTEST COMPETITION, GAME-THEORY, EVOLUTION, ASYMMETRIES, CONFLICT, DISPLAYS, BEHAVIOR, ABILITY, MODEL

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