Eggs survive through avian guts—A possible mechanism for transoceanic dispersal of flightless weevils

Lin, Si Min; Li, Tsui Wen; Liou, Chia Hsin; Amarga, Ace Kevin S.; Cabras, Analyn; Tseng, Hui Yun

doi:10.1002/ece3.7630

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Nevertheless, tropical cyclones bring not only violent winds but also torrential rains and the performance of the weevil's attachment system in wet conditions requires further investigation. Pachyrhynchus weevils are flightless, but widespread in oceanic islands via passive dispersals potentially through eggs in fruits of floating sea poison trees [15] or eggs in the guts of birds [52]. Though the strong attachment may help the weevils remain on the island during windy events, it may also enhance passive dispersal by attaching to birds (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strong attachment as an adaptation of flightless weevils on windy oceanic islands

Wang,

Lin,

Gorb

et al. 2023

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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Enhanced attachment ability is common in plants on islands to avoid potential fatal passive dispersal. However, whether island insects also have increased attachment ability remains unclear. Here we measured the attachment of a flightless weevil, Pachyrhynchus sarcitis kotoensis , from tropical islands, and compared it with documented arthropods from the mainland. We examined the morphology and material gradient of its attachment devices to identify the specific adaptive modifications for attachment. We find that the weevil has much stronger attachment force and higher safety factor than previously studied arthropods, regardless of body size and substrate roughness. This probably results from the specific flexible bases of the adhesive setae on the third footpad of the legs. This softer material on the setal base has not been reported hitherto and we suggest that it acts as a flexible hinge to form intimate contact to substrate more effectively. By contrast, no morphological difference in tarsomeres and setae between the weevil and other beetles is observed. Our results show the remarkably strong attachment of an island insect and highlights the potential adaptive benefits of strong attachment in windy island environment. The unique soft bases of the adhesive hairs may inspire the development of strong biomimetic adhesives.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strong attachment as an adaptation of flightless weevils on windy oceanic islands

Wang,

Lin,

Gorb

et al. 2023

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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“…This includes frugivorous birds dispersing seed wasps Eurytoma plotnikov which dwell on seeds of Pistacia chinensis (Xiao 2020); the introduced brushtail possum which disperses invasive Rosa species via endozoochory as well as adult torymid wasps inhabiting the seeds of Rosa (Rouco & Norbury 2013); or eggs of flightless Pachyrhynchus weevil inhabiting the seeds of bird‐dispersed Diospyros kaki (Lin et al . 2021). An especially interesting case is that of frugivorous birds which disperse the seeds of Ligustrum vulgare , the moth which parasitizes its seeds, and the wasp that parasitizes the parasitic moth (Hernández & Falco 2008, 2014).…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Frugivorous birds disperse seeds of Ligustrum lucidum, seed‐feeding weevils, and parasitic wasps of weevils via endozoochory

et al. 2021

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Biological invasion is considered one of the world's most serious conservation biology issues. In a global review on invasive species, Richardson & Rejmanek (2011) indicated that over 40% of invasive trees and over 60% of invasive shrubs are dispersed by birds. Privet species (genus Ligustrum, Oleaceae) are typical ornithochorous species (Montaldo et al. 2017;Fernandez et al. 2020). Some Asian taxa of Ligustrum are becoming serious invaders in different ecosystems in America, Europe, Africa, and Australia (Aslan et al. 2012; Powell & Araoz 2018). In particular, Ligustrum lucidum is one of the most abundant invasive trees in forests in different countries (Aragon & Groom 2003; Richardson & Rejmanek 2011). Its reproductive phenology, fruit production, fruit removal, and seed-dispersal syndrome have been studied in detail in different habitats (Montaldo 2000;Fernandez et al. 2020). A study in Northern California revealed that a newly formed seed-dispersal mutualism between local birds and introduced L. lucidum is now in lag phases preceding bird-mediated future invasion (Aslan 2011). Habitat fragmentation leads L. lucidum to invade novel environments and modifies the spread pattern of this species

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Predicting consistent foraging ecologies of migrating waterbirds: Using stable isotope and parasite measurements as indicators of landscape use

Sheehan

Dorr

Clements

et al. 2022

Ecological Indicators

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Eggs survive through avian guts—A possible mechanism for transoceanic dispersal of flightless weevils

Abstract: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cited by 7 publications

References 36 publications

Strong attachment as an adaptation of flightless weevils on windy oceanic islands

Strong attachment as an adaptation of flightless weevils on windy oceanic islands

Frugivorous birds disperse seeds of Ligustrum lucidum, seed‐feeding weevils, and parasitic wasps of weevils via endozoochory

Predicting consistent foraging ecologies of migrating waterbirds: Using stable isotope and parasite measurements as indicators of landscape use

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