PT Journal
AU Dejean, A
   Carpenter, J
   Gibernau, M
   Leponce, M
   Corbara, B
TI Nest relocation and high mortality rate in a Neotropical social wasp: Impact of an exceptionally rainy La Nina year
SO Comptes Rendus Biologies
JI C. R. Biol.
PY 2010
BP 35
EP 40
VL 333
IS 1
DE Vespidae; Population size variation; Microevolution; La Nina; French Guiana
AB After noting the forecast of a La Nina episode, associated with heavy rainfall in French Guiana, we monitored the fate of wasp nests before and during the 2006 short rainy season. The population of the most abundant epiponine wasp species, Polybia bistriata, decreased dramatically during the short rainy season (60.6% of the nests disappeared) then remained low for at least 18 months. Colonies that survived moved from the shelter of large, low leaves (a situation well adapted to the previous dry season) of the most frequent substrate tree, Clusia grandiflora (Clusiaceae), to upper leaves, better ventilated and whose orientation provides good protection from the rain. Therefore, the possibility of moving the nest higher during the first rains following the dry season seems very adaptive as colonies that do not do so are eliminated during the La Nina years, whose frequency will increase with global climate change. (C) 2009 Academie des sciences. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
ER