Asynchronous Synchronization: A Spatially Explicit Agent‐Based Model Simulating Ficus Trees and Their Obligate Wasp Pollinator.

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Title: Asynchronous Synchronization: A Spatially Explicit Agent‐Based Model Simulating Ficus Trees and Their Obligate Wasp Pollinator.
Authors: Palace, Michael1,2 (AUTHOR) michael.palace@unh.edu
Source: Ecology & Evolution (20457758). Jun2026, Vol. 16 Issue 6, p1-15. 15p.
Subject Terms: *Pollination, Ficus (Plants), Wasps, Population viability analysis, Flowering time, Microsimulation modeling (Statistics), Synchronization
Abstract: The study of figs (Ficus spp., Moraceae) has received considerable attention in the scientific literature, due to the genus' large number of species (700), pollination mutualism with Agaonid wasps, and its role as a keystone food resource in tropical ecosystems. Temporal sexual separation in hermaphroditic Ficus and asynchronous flowering among individuals within populations creates problems in supporting a viable population of dependent pollinator wasp species. To maintain the short‐lived wasp populations, Ficus populations must provide a continuous temporal sequence of flowering trees, which are havens for the pollinating, termed the Critical Population Size (CPS). CPS was defined at the threshold between parameter settings yielding no wasps at the end of any simulation run and those in which at least one tree retained wasps for all 100 model runs for a setting within a scenario. A theoretical model of fig–wasp persistence dynamics incorporating temporal and spatial components was developed to examine CPS in monoecious species. Parameterization of this model is from literature and applicable to many species of Ficus. Because male and female fig flowers occur sequentially within a tree, the model represents the timing of the male and female phases separately rather than combining them into a single flowering period. Distance wasps can fly is essential in sustainable populations of Ficus. The influence of other model parameters on the system and how the system responds when longer simulation times are conducted. The model developed here can examine the transfer of pollen and catalog the links between trees, essentially allowing the examination of a network that varies temporally but not spatially. This model develops a new concept on what is deemed a viable pollinating population and includes spatial attributes and the ability to track individual trees and wasps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Label: Title
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  Data: Asynchronous Synchronization: A Spatially Explicit Agent‐Based Model Simulating Ficus Trees and Their Obligate Wasp Pollinator.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Palace%2C+Michael%22">Palace, Michael</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> michael.palace@unh.edu</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Ecology+%26+Evolution+%2820457758%29%22">Ecology & Evolution (20457758)</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 16 Issue 6, p1-15. 15p.
– Name: Subject
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pollination%22">Pollination</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ficus+%28Plants%29%22">Ficus (Plants)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Wasps%22">Wasps</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Population+viability+analysis%22">Population viability analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Flowering+time%22">Flowering time</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microsimulation+modeling+%28Statistics%29%22">Microsimulation modeling (Statistics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Synchronization%22">Synchronization</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The study of figs (Ficus spp., Moraceae) has received considerable attention in the scientific literature, due to the genus' large number of species (700), pollination mutualism with Agaonid wasps, and its role as a keystone food resource in tropical ecosystems. Temporal sexual separation in hermaphroditic Ficus and asynchronous flowering among individuals within populations creates problems in supporting a viable population of dependent pollinator wasp species. To maintain the short‐lived wasp populations, Ficus populations must provide a continuous temporal sequence of flowering trees, which are havens for the pollinating, termed the Critical Population Size (CPS). CPS was defined at the threshold between parameter settings yielding no wasps at the end of any simulation run and those in which at least one tree retained wasps for all 100 model runs for a setting within a scenario. A theoretical model of fig–wasp persistence dynamics incorporating temporal and spatial components was developed to examine CPS in monoecious species. Parameterization of this model is from literature and applicable to many species of Ficus. Because male and female fig flowers occur sequentially within a tree, the model represents the timing of the male and female phases separately rather than combining them into a single flowering period. Distance wasps can fly is essential in sustainable populations of Ficus. The influence of other model parameters on the system and how the system responds when longer simulation times are conducted. The model developed here can examine the transfer of pollen and catalog the links between trees, essentially allowing the examination of a network that varies temporally but not spatially. This model develops a new concept on what is deemed a viable pollinating population and includes spatial attributes and the ability to track individual trees and wasps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1002/ece3.73778
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 15
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Pollination
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ficus (Plants)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Wasps
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Population viability analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Flowering time
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Microsimulation modeling (Statistics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Synchronization
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Asynchronous Synchronization: A Spatially Explicit Agent‐Based Model Simulating Ficus Trees and Their Obligate Wasp Pollinator.
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            NameFull: Palace, Michael
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            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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