Jandér lab

Ecology and evolution of mutualisms

Fig wasp pollinating

Female pollinator fig wasp (Tetrapus sp.) enters a flowering fig of Ficus maxima, where she will pollinate and lay her eggs. Photo: C. Ziegler.

Our research focuses on the ecology and evolution of species interactions, especially mutualisms (interactions where both members benefit). Mutualisms are present nearly everywhere, and are essential for many ecosystems. For example, many plants need pollinators to reproduce, and many animals, including humans, need gut bacteria to take up nutrients. But why would individuals from different species provide costly benefits to each other - what prevents partners from turning into cheaters? How are mutualisms maintained despite these and other challenges? Our research explores these, and other questions related to the ecology and evolution of mutualisms.

The red-listed spring pasque flower (Pulsatilla vernalis) thrives after the conservation intervention prescribed burning. Photo: C. Hagström.

For more information, please see our external site

Group members

Research leader: Charlotte Jandér

Group members: Anastassiya Gadetskaya, Lovisa Dück

Publications

Inflorescence size predicts host-symbiont conflict in monoecious fig-wasp mutualisms

Dunn, Derek W; Jandér, K. Charlotte; Herre, Edward Allen; Segar, Simon T et al.

Part of Evolutionary Journal of the Linnean Society, 2025
- DOI for Inflorescence size predicts host-symbiont conflict in monoecious fig-wasp mutualisms
A new player in the Panamanian fig tree – fig wasp mutualism: a study on the effect of gall midges on Ficus citrifolia

Hedberg, H. Roberta; Dück, Lovisa; Jandér, K. Charlotte; van Kolfschoten, Lisette

Part of Acta Oecologica, 2024
- DOI for A new player in the Panamanian fig tree – fig wasp mutualism: a study on the effect of gall midges on Ficus citrifolia
- Download full text (pdf) of A new player in the Panamanian fig tree – fig wasp mutualism: a study on the effect of gall midges on Ficus citrifolia
Specialist fig-consuming lepidopterans can inflict costs to plant reproductive success that are mitigated by ant bodyguards

van Kolfschoten, Lisette; Asantewaa, Miriam Adu; Dück, Lovisa; Segar, Simon T. et al.

Part of Acta Oecologica, 2024
- DOI for Specialist fig-consuming lepidopterans can inflict costs to plant reproductive success that are mitigated by ant bodyguards
- Download full text (pdf) of Specialist fig-consuming lepidopterans can inflict costs to plant reproductive success that are mitigated by ant bodyguards
Active pollination in a functionally dioecious Ficus species: An interplay between pollinator behaviour and floral morphology

Miao, Bai-Ge; Liu, Ming-Xin; Wang, Bo; Peng, Yan-Qiong et al.

Part of Flora, 2023
- DOI for Active pollination in a functionally dioecious Ficus species: An interplay between pollinator behaviour and floral morphology
Pollinator and host sharing lead to hybridization and introgression in Panamanian free-standing figs, but not in their pollinator wasps

Satler, Jordan D.; Herre, Edward Allen; Heath, Tracy A.; Machado, Carlos A. et al.

Part of Ecology and Evolution, 2023
- DOI for Pollinator and host sharing lead to hybridization and introgression in Panamanian free-standing figs, but not in their pollinator wasps
- Download full text (pdf) of Pollinator and host sharing lead to hybridization and introgression in Panamanian free-standing figs, but not in their pollinator wasps
Asymmetric and uncertain interactions within mutualisms

Wang, Rui-Wu; Shi, An-Na; Zhang, Xiao-Wei; Liu, Min et al.

Part of Journal of Plant Ecology, 2023
- DOI for Asymmetric and uncertain interactions within mutualisms
The effect of prescribed burning on Pulsatilla vernalis at Marma military training area in Sweden

Hagström, Charlotta; Löfgren, Tommy; Lindquist, Ingemar; Forslund, Maria et al.

Part of Conservation Evidence Journal, p. 13-20, 2023
- DOI for The effect of prescribed burning on Pulsatilla vernalis at Marma military training area in Sweden
Rising temperatures threaten pollinators of fig trees-Keystone resources of tropical forests

van Kolfschoten, Lisette; Duck, Lovisa; Lind, Martin I.; Jandér, K. Charlotte

Part of Ecology and Evolution, 2022
- DOI for Rising temperatures threaten pollinators of fig trees-Keystone resources of tropical forests
- Download full text (pdf) of Rising temperatures threaten pollinators of fig trees-Keystone resources of tropical forests
The evolution of parasitism from mutualism in wasps pollinating the fig, Ficus microcarpa, in Yunnan Province, China

Zhang, Ting; Jandér, K. Charlotte; Huang, Jian-Feng; Wang, Bo et al.

Part of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2021
- DOI for The evolution of parasitism from mutualism in wasps pollinating the fig, Ficus microcarpa, in Yunnan Province, China
Fitness costs for fig wasps that fail to pollinate their host Ficus perforata

Jandér, K. Charlotte

Part of Symbiosis, p. 171-178, 2021
- DOI for Fitness costs for fig wasps that fail to pollinate their host Ficus perforata
- Download full text (pdf) of Fitness costs for fig wasps that fail to pollinate their host Ficus perforata

Research areas

Plant Ecology and Evolution