Data from measurements in a common garden of three Quercus robur provenances in Belgium and observations of 9 gall wasp species during 5 consecutive years

This is the abstract of a manuscript that will be submitted in which these data are processed.

"Understanding the traits of host oaks that shape gall wasp communities is critical for predicting the ecological consequences of climate change on these wasp populations. We investigated summer gall occurrences of nine gall wasp species over five consecutive years (2020–2024) on Quercus robur hosts in a common garden plantation in Belgium. Population differentiation among three oak provenances indicated local adaptation: the two non-local provenances (lower-latitude French and higher-latitude Danish) exhibited reduced height growth relative to the local provenance and differed in spring bud burst, autumn leaf senescence and leaf chlorophyll content. Summer gall occurrences were significantly reduced on the lower-latitude provenance, particularly for abundant Neuroterus species, whereas the higher-latitude provenance showed no consistent differences. Gall occurrences were also correlated with host oak leaf phenology: spring bud burst had a stronger effect than autumn senescence, with wasp species showing preferences for mainly late, but also early and intermediate, bud-bursting oaks. Tree height and leaf chlorophyll content influenced summer gall presence for some species, consistent with the plant vigor hypothesis. Multivariate analyses did not reveal clear interspecific interactions among the studied gall wasps. These findings highlight that provenance choice for oaks can shape associated herbivore communities, showing that assisted gene flow can have ecological implications. Inclusion of both sexual and asexual generations in future studies will provide a more comprehensive understanding of host–gall wasp dynamics across seasons."

Disclaimer [adapted from Desmet P, Brosens D, Du Seuil D, Goossens B (2014) INBO norms for data use. Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO). http://www.inbo.be/en/norms-for-data-use]

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