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Deceptive fruits reduce seed predation by insects inPistacia terebinthus L. (Anacardiaceae)

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Summary

The production of seedless fruits (parthenocarpy) is not yet understood from an evolutionary viewpoint, even though it is taxonomically widespread. Here I present a case in which parthenocarpy reduces the incidence of seed predation by insects. At least the first generation of chalcidoid wasps that oviposit in the fruits ofPistacia terebinthus L. (Anacardiaceae) cannot discriminate among viable and inviable fruits, allocating energy and time to oviposition on fruits that are not suitable for larval development.

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  1. Anna Traveset

    Present address: Institut d'Estudis Avançats de les Balears, CSIC, Crtra. de Valldemossa Km. 7′5, 07071, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Apdo. 1056, 41080, Sevilla, Spain

    Anna Traveset

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  1. Anna Traveset
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Traveset, A. Deceptive fruits reduce seed predation by insects inPistacia terebinthus L. (Anacardiaceae). Evol Ecol 7, 357–361 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01237867

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