| Repercussions of El Niño: drought causes extinction and the breakdown of mutualism in Borneo. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 10853734 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
Figs (Ficus spp.) and their species-specific pollinators, the fig wasps (Agaonidae), have coevolved one of the most intricate interactions found in nature, in which the fig wasps, in return for pollination services, raise their offspring in the fig inflorescence. Fig wasps, however, have very short adult lives and hence are dependent on the near-continuous production of inflorescences to maintain their populations. From January to March 1998 northern Borneo suffered a very severe drought linked to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation event of 1997-1998. This caused a substantial break in the production of inflorescences on dioecious figs and led to the local extinction of their pollinators at Lambir Hills National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia. Most pollinators had not recolonized six months after the drought and, given the high level of endemism and wide extent of the drought, some species may be totally extinct. Cascading effects on vertebrate seed dispersers, for which figs are often regarded as keystone resources, and the tree species dependent on their services are also likely. This has considerable implications for the maintenance of biodiversity under a scenario of climate change and greater climatic extremes. |
| | |
Authors:
|
R D Harrison |
Related Documents
:
|
22328724 - Influence of dietary protein content and source on colonic fermentative activity in dog... 22614234 - Ectoparasite reproductive performance when host condition varies. 9194844 - The prevalence of cercariae from stagnicola emarginata (lymnaeidae) over 50 years in no... 22582294 - Intra-amniotic administration and dietary inulin affect the iron status and intestinal ... 7285004 - Promotion by unsaturated fat of azaserine-induced pancreatic carcinogenesis in the rat. 8002454 - Efficacy of magnesium-l-ascorbyl-2-phosphate as a vitamin c source for weanling and gro... |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society Volume: 267 ISSN: 0962-8452 ISO Abbreviation: Proc. Biol. Sci. Publication Date: 2000 May |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2000-09-29 Completed Date: 2000-09-29 Revised Date: 2010-09-20 |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 101245157 Medline TA: Proc Biol Sci Country: ENGLAND |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 911-5 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
|
Centre for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, Otsu, Japan. rhett@ecology.kyoto-u.ac |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
Animals Borneo Climate* Ecosystem* Female Male Symbiosis* Trees Wasps |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Behavioural mimicry of honeybees (Apis mellifera) by droneflies (Diptera: Syrphidae: Eristalis spp.)...
Next Document: Body postures and patterns as amplifiers of physical condition.