Résumé
Figs and pollinating fig wasps are involved in highly specific mutualisms. Because associations between figs and theirpollinating wasps are horizontally transmitted, partner encounter is a crucial step, and is mediated by the emission byreceptive figs of the volatile compounds that are detected by the pollinator. However, pollinator attraction is probably notthe only function of the volatile compounds produced by figs. Other likely functions include signalling to wasps that a fighas already been pollinated, and deterring or defending against visitors with negative effects on developing figs or thepollinators they contain. The functions of volatile compounds will also change over the course of fig development, and thecomposition of the odour bouquet is thus also likely to vary. However, this variation and its likely functional importancehave rarely been studied. To address these questions, we investigated changes in the composition of the bouquet of volatilecompounds, and in the rate of emission of odour components, before, during and after the phase of receptivity to pollinatorsin Ficus hispida, in Yunnan (China). This first study of the dynamics of variation in signal composition throughout the cycleof fig development, provides support for the hypothesis of chemical mimicry in dioecious figs.