Where is ficus found

Fig trees are commonly found in moderate to moist areas near rivers or streams [63] , [64] and riparian zones in northern Thailand were found to be extremely rich in Ficus species. We recorded 33 species in 40 plots that had a total area of only about 4 ha.

This is about two thirds of all the Ficus species native to Northern Thailand [23] and more than one quarter of all native fig tree species in Thailand [51]. This high level of species richness is by no means unusual for fig trees and is comparable to other sites in the region [65]. Elsewhere in Thailand, 50 percent of the 38 Ficus taxa recognized by [8] were recorded at least occasionally from riparian situations, and several species were only recorded from this habitat.

Similarly, Kong-ied [43] reported that Ficus L. The fig trees were also abundant at our study sites and these results emphasize that, as in some other habitats, riparian Ficus are likely to be keystone resources for threatened frugivores such as hornbills [66] as well as for many other species of birds and mammals.

Shrubs, creepers, stranglers and free-standing trees were all present in the riparian vegetation. A small number of the Ficus species were extreme riverine habitat specialists capable of growing on rocks in mid-stream rheophytes , some other species were bank-side specialists largely restricted to riparian zones, and others were more widespread species that are also found routinely in other habitats [10].

In this study, the most common Ficus species at the four sites, and the species most closely located to the streams, was F. It is a rheophytic shrub with rooting stolon-like stems, and is particularly associated with fast-flowing streams.

Our field observations found that this species is tolerant of extreme disturbance during rainy season flooding events. It also displays anatomical adaptations for seed dispersal by water [10]. In addition to F. Environmental factors related to proximity to streams, such as disturbance, readily available water and increased light from the open canopy present above are likely to have been influencing their distributions [39]. Hemi-epiphytic strangler figs were found mostly at greater distances from the streams and their association with the riparian zone appears to be more casual.

They germinate from seeds deposited in the canopy and are likely to be less responsive to the increased light levels at stream edges, and because they are epiphytic as young plants they also display adaptations for resistance to dehydration, so the elevated soil moisture near streams will be less important [11].

Consequently, the availability of suitable host trees may be more important than where the host trees are growing. There was significant positive relationships between species richness, abundance and density of figs with proximity to streams.

Higher light levels and the availability of water clearly play the important role in organizing the distribution of riparian figs. The relationship between hydrology and riparian plant composition has previously been identified as an important research area [59] , [61] that requires further interdisciplinary research. Ecological studies of riparian zones have been predominantly in North America. Temperate research from there and elsewhere has demonstrated the importance of the disturbance caused by flood scour events for the maintenance of local biodiversity [67].

Community processes in tropical riparian zones are less well understood, but they are likely to show significant differences from temperate examples. Hydrological regimes may or may not be more highly variable in the tropics, depending on local rainfall regimes, and predictable seasonal events such as snow melt will usually be absent. The chemical composition of stream substrates, and of adjacent land, may also often be different.

Tropical riparian zones also have a different plant and animal taxonomic composition and much higher species richness. Interactions between plants and animals may also be more significant, with greater dependence on animal pollination and seed dispersal. Chantarasuwan et al. In South America, Banack [69] found that F. Ficus species richness and abundance numbers of stems did not differ between the four streams we examined. The species diversity of the Mae Ka stream MK was nonetheless higher than those of the others.

It was situated at a lower elevation and had a different substrate to the other streams with a combination of limestone bed rock and granite. This finding is consistent with that of Munishi [70] , who revealed that there was difference in species richness, density and diversity of tree resources outside forest in river strata on the Southern side of Mount Kilimanjaro.

This variation did not follow any particular pattern with regard to distances from river catchments. Topography and soil types are often important factors in the distribution of tree species [71] and the nature of the dipterocarp forest at the MK sites may also have had an influence on fig tree distribution. There were more species and a higher density of fig trees between — m asl. The distribution of species richness along elevation gradients is governed by a series of interacting biological, climatic and historical factors [72] and elevation represents a complex gradient along which many environmental variables change simultaneously [73].

Other factors, such as soil fertility and topography may also affect the patterns of species richness along elevation gradients.

In mountain regions, the pattern of different forest types and other communities often corresponds to elevation and topography. Variation in microclimate with topography and elevation is also a major factor of species distribution within a forest landscape [74]. While Harrison et al. They suggested that large-scale habitat associations may also influence fig tree species richness at higher elevations. In conclusion, tropical riparian vegetation influences several important ecological functions such as stream bank stabilization, reduction of flood velocities, shading and the provision of food for animals.

It is also a particularly vulnerable and threatened habitat in Thailand and elsewhere [30] , [32] — [38]. We found that in northern Thailand fig trees are a numerically important and diverse component of riparian vegetation, and that this habitat supports a high proportion of all figs in the region, comprising a mix of growth forms and both habitat specialists and generalists.

Streams on limestone appear to differ in character to those on acid substrates, and there is some variation in community composition with altitude. This study emphasizes the likely conservation importance of fig trees in riparian areas of Thailand, but their role in broader ecosystem functioning remains largely unknown. Mae Ka stream MK 2. Mae Sa stream MS 3. Huay Kaew stream HK 4. Mae Klang stream MKL. Distribution of plot sites along an elevation gradient followed the forest classification scheme in Thailand; dry deciduous dipterocarp, mixed diciduous and evergreen, and hill evergreen respectively.

The elevation gradient was divided into three ranges i. Tables S1 and S2. Table S1. Species list of riparian figs present along four streams in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. Table S2. Median distances to streams of Ficus species all four sites combined. We are deeply grateful to Wattana Tanming who assisted with the maps and provided support in identifying fig species. We would like to offer our regards to all those who supported us in any way during the completion of this research.

Performed the experiments: PP. Browse Subject Areas? Click through the PLOS taxonomy to find articles in your field.

Abstract Fig trees Ficus are often ecologically significant keystone species because they sustain populations of the many seed-dispersing animals that feed on their fruits. Introduction Ficus Moraceae is one of the largest plant genera, with more than described species distributed worldwide, mainly in tropical countries [1] — [3].

Download: PPT. Table 1. Geological and environmental characteristics of the study sites. Species Diversity The abundance of each Ficus species was estimated using the belt transect method [50].

Fig Tree Distributions To reveal individual species distributions in relation to streams, we measured the distance of all individual trunks to the stream edge using a tape measure and then generated a median distance of each fig tree species from the stream. Results Species Richness A total of individual fig trees were recorded in the surveys along the four streams with Figure 1.

Table 2. Descriptive statistics for diversity indices in the study sites. Figure 2. Fig Tree Distributions The median distance of occurrence of individual fig stems from stream edges varied between 0. Figure 3. Median distance to streams vertical solid lines and ranges of occurrence of Ficus species all four sites combined. Table 3. Differences in fig tree mean species richness and density in different river distance bands four study sites combined.

Table 4. Figure 4. Mean number of stems A, C and mean number of species B, D in four stream sites left and at each stream distance stratum right. Fig Composition Along An Elevation Gradient Fig tree abundance and density varied significantly between elevation ranges and forest types Table 4. Figure 5. T heir leaf architectures differ from each other and are highly phylogenetically correlated.

Therefore, a fossil Ficus species can be identified to a certain subgenus using leaf architecture. After herbarium specimens studies and comprehensive comparison with extant species, the researchers confirmed that the intact fossil leaves are new to science and named the fossil as Ficus microtrivia J. Huang et Z. Zhou sp. As a group figs are relatively easy to recognise. The unique fig pollination system, involving tiny, highly specific wasps which pollinate and lay their eggs, has been a constant source of inspiration and wonder to biologists.

Finally, there are three vegetative traits that together are unique to figs. Figs are keystone species in many rainforest ecosystems. Their fruit are a key resource for some frugivores including flying foxes. Ficus is by far the largest genus in the Moraceae the fig family , and is one of the largest genera of flowering plants currently described.