Studies of conflicts between mutualists and their evolutionary consequences are critical for understanding how both mutualisms and antagonisms arise and persist. However, nearly all studies of mutualisms focus on the interests of one of the partners only. The proposed study of two sympatric fig/pollinator mutualisms will investigate the nature and consequences of one pivotal mutualistic trait within-tree reproductive phenology, from the perspective of both partners. Using detailed observations and a set of manipulative experiments. The P.I. will (1) provide the first quantitative description of the relevant phenological traits for any fig species; (2) define patterns of phenological variation at the scales of branch, tree, local site, region, species, and season; (3) measure reproductive consequences of within-tree phenology for each mutualist partner; and (4) use this information to test a set of hypotheses for the cause of phenological differences among and within fig species. The costs and benefits of phenological traits critical for the maintenance of these interactions as mutualisms will be established for the first time by this study. More broadly, it will demonstrate the value of a reciprocal rather than unilateral approach to understanding ecological and evolutionary dynamics of a mutualism. These results from this study will have important implications in many natural communities.
