Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Graduate Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 2018 A worm's tale: An evaluation of the natural history and infectious dynamics of Parasitodiplogaster nematodes Justin Michael Van Goor Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd Part of the Biology Commons, Developmental Biology Commons, and the Evolution Commons Recommended Citation Van Goor, Justin Michael, "A worm's tale: An evaluation of the natural history and infectious dynamics of Parasitodiplogaster nematodes" (2018). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 16682. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/16682 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A worm’s tale: An evaluation of the natural history and infectious dynamics of Parasitodiplogaster nematodes by Justin Van Goor A dissertation submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Major: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program of Study Committee: John D. Nason, Major Professor Dean C. Adams Julie A. Blanchong Mary A. Harris Amy L. Toth The student author, whose presentation of the scholarship herein was approved by the program of study committee, is solely responsible for the content of this dissertation. The Graduate College will ensure this dissertation is globally accessible and will not permit alterations after a degree is conferred Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2018 Copyright © Justin Van Goor, 2018. All rights reserved. ii DEDICATION To my Dad, David, and to my Son, Erik David. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................... vi LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................ vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ....................................................................................................... ix ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................... xiii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 1 1.1 Mutualism ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Mutualism in Community Context ................................................................................ 2 1.3 Sex Ratio Theory ........................................................................................................... 4 1.4 The Fig-Fig Wasp Pollination Mutualism ..................................................................... 6 1.5 Non-Pollinating Fig Wasps ........................................................................................... 8 1.6 Parasitodiplogaster Nematodes .................................................................................... 9 1.7 Dissertation Organization ............................................................................................ 11 References ......................................................................................................................... 13 CHAPTER 2. FIGS, POLLINATORS, AND PARASITES: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF NEMATODE INFECTION ON FIG WASP FITNESS .... 25 Abstract .............................................................................................................................. 25 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 26 2.2 Materials and Methods ................................................................................................ 30 2.2.1 Background: Figs, Fig Wasps, and Parasitodiplogaster Nematodes ................... 30 2.2.2 Study Community: The Ficus petiolaris System of Northwestern Mexico......... 32 2.2.3 Study Sites and Seasons ...................................................................................... 33 2.2.4 Geographical and Seasonal Variation in Host Availability and Nematode Infection........................................................................................................................ 34 2.2.5 Nematode Impacts on Pollinator Offspring Production in the Context of Non-Pollinator Wasps .................................................................................................. 36 2.2.6 Nematode Infection Effects on Pollinator Longevity.......................................... 36 2.2.7 Nematode Effects on Pollinator Dispersal Ability .............................................. 38 2.3 Results ......................................................................................................................... 38 2.3.1 Geographical and Seasonal Variation in Host Availability and Nematode Infection........................................................................................................................ 38 2.3.2 Nematode Impacts on Pollinator Offspring Production in the Context of Non-Pollinator Wasps .................................................................................................. 39 2.3.3 Nematode Infection Effects on Pollinator Longevity.......................................... 41 2.3.4 Nematode Effects on Pollinator Dispersal Ability .............................................. 42 2.4 Discussion .................................................................................................................... 43 2.4.1 Geographical and Seasonal Variation in Host Availability and Nematode Infection........................................................................................................................ 44 2.4.2 Nematode Impacts on Pollinator Offspring Production in the Context of iv Non-Pollinator Wasps .................................................................................................. 45 2.4.3 Nematode Infection Effects on Pollinator Longevity.......................................... 48 2.4.4 Nematode Effects on Wasp Dispersal Ability ..................................................... 51 2.4.5 Implications of Nematode Infection on Non-Pollinating Wasps ........................ 52 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... 53 References ......................................................................................................................... 53 CHAPTER 3. THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY IS MY FRIEND: NEMATODE INFECTION OF POLLINATING AND NON-POLLINATING WASPS HAS NET BENEFITS FOR THE FIG-FIG WASP POLLINATION MUTUALISM ............................ 73 Abstract .............................................................................................................................. 73 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 74 3.2 Methods ....................................................................................................................... 79 3.2.1 Background Biology: Figs, Pollinators, Non-Pollinators, and Nematodes ......... 79 3.2.2 Study Community: The Ficus petiolaris system of Northwestern Mexico......... 81 3.2.3 Characterization of F. petiolaris Non-Pollinator Population Structure .............. 83 3.2.4 Frequency of Interaction between Nematodes and Non-Pollinators ................... 83 3.2.5 Nematode Infection Effects on Non-Pollinator Longevity ................................. 84 3.2.6 Nematode Infection Effects on Non-Pollinator Dispersal Ability ...................... 85 3.2.7 Comparative Study: Nematode Infection of Pollinators and Non-Pollinators in Ficus popenoei ......................................................................................................... 86 3.3 Results ......................................................................................................................... 87 3.3.1 Characterization of F. petiolaris Non-Pollinator Population Structure .............. 87 3.3.2 Frequency of Interaction between Nematodes and Non-Pollinators ................... 88 3.3.3 Nematode Infection Effects on Non-Pollinator Longevity ................................. 88 3.3.4 Nematode Infection Effects on Non-Pollinator Dispersal Ability ...................... 90 3.3.5 Comparative Study: Nematode Infection of Pollinators and Non-Pollinators in Ficus popenoei ......................................................................................................... 91 3.4 Discussion .................................................................................................................... 93 3.4.1 Characterization of F. petiolaris Non-Pollinator Population Structure .............. 93 3.4.2 Frequency of Interaction between Non-Pollinators and Nematodes ................... 94 3.4.3 Nematode Infection Effects on Non-Pollinator Longevity ................................. 96 3.4.4 Nematode Infection Effects on Non-Pollinator Dispersal Ability ...................... 98 3.4.5 Comparative Study: Nematode Infection of Pollinators and Non-Pollinators in Ficus popenoei ........................................................................................................