Ficus yoponensis
Encyclopedia
Ficus yoponensis is a species of fig tree found in Central and South America. It can grow to heights of 40–50 m (131.2–164 ft) tall, having a trunk diameter of 1 metres (3.3 ft). The trunk is buttress
ed, light grey in colour and reasonably smooth. Its petioles
are 1–2.5 cm (0.393700787401575–0.984251968503937 in) long, the stipule
s are straight and 3–5 cm (1.2–2 in) long. The leaves and stems are hairless. The leaves are 6–11 cm (2.4–4.3 in) long and 2.5–4 cm (0.984251968503937–1.6 in) wide, but larger in juveniles, being up to 28 centimetres (11 in) long and 5 centimetres (2 in) wide. The time at which they flower varies between individuals, but each tree tends to flower at a similar time each year. As in all figs, the flowers are enclosed inside the fig and can only be accessed by fig wasp
s, which enter to pollinate the flowers and lay their own eggs. The resulting fruit grows to 1.8 centimetre (0.708661417322835 in) in diameter and turns from green to purple with maturity. On average in Panama, F. yoponensis produce a new flush of leaves every 20 weeks and flower every 25 weeks. The species is similar in appearance to Ficus insipida
but has smaller leaves, stipules and fruits and only occurs in primary forest whereas F. insipida is also found in secondary forest
.
in Mexico in the north to Colombia and Venezuela in the south. It grows from sea level to 1600 metres (5,249.3 ft) above sea level but is usually found between 500 to 1200 m (1,640.4 to 3,937 ft). Along with F. insipida it is one of the two most abundant species of fig tree found on Barro Colorado Island
, Panama (BCI).
ecuadoranus: 58% of figs are fertilised by only one female.
The fruits and leaves of F. yoponensis are eaten by several species. The fruits are eaten by bat
s, which then disperse their seeds. The stipules and fruits are collected by the leaf cutter ant, Atta colombica
. The leaves and fruits are the preferred fruit of howler monkey
s (Alouatta palliata), with one troop on Barro Colorado Island spending one quarter of its time feeding on F. yoponensis or F. insipida. Spider monkey
s (Ateles geoffroyi) also feed on the leaves, which contain 11% protein and 4% sugars and remain similar in chemical composition throughout their lifespan, unlike most tree species. When fresh, the young leaves contain up to 585 mg of ascorbic acid
(vitamin C
) per 100 grams (3.5 oz) and the fruits contain 268 mg per 100 g. Like humans A. palliata and A. geoffroyi require vitamin C in their diet, since they do not possess the gene for L-gulonolactone oxidase
, the enzyme required to convert glucose to ascorbic acid. The fruits of F. yoponensis contain more vitamin C than any other fruit available to the monkeys on Barro Colorado Island.
Various invertebrates live in water-filled holes
into which leaf litter falls; as it decomposes it provides food for the animals. The leaves of F. yoponensis soften quickly after falling into the holes and are then eaten by Scirtid beetle larvae, leaving only a skeleton behind. An experiment in the rainforest, where leaves of F. yoponensis were added to an artificial pool containing 650 ml of water found that sixteen species lived in them, with the mosquito Culex mollis being the most abundant. Yanoviak found that the average volume of the holes was 0.3 litre (0.52792642817297 imp pt) and that they contained 67 individual animals.
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
ed, light grey in colour and reasonably smooth. Its petioles
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
are 1–2.5 cm (0.393700787401575–0.984251968503937 in) long, the stipule
Stipule
In botany, stipule is a term coined by Linnaeus which refers to outgrowths borne on either side of the base of a leafstalk...
s are straight and 3–5 cm (1.2–2 in) long. The leaves and stems are hairless. The leaves are 6–11 cm (2.4–4.3 in) long and 2.5–4 cm (0.984251968503937–1.6 in) wide, but larger in juveniles, being up to 28 centimetres (11 in) long and 5 centimetres (2 in) wide. The time at which they flower varies between individuals, but each tree tends to flower at a similar time each year. As in all figs, the flowers are enclosed inside the fig and can only be accessed by fig wasp
Fig wasp
Fig wasps are wasps of the family Agaonidae which pollinate figs or are otherwise associated with figs, a coevolutional relationship that has been developing for at least 80 million years...
s, which enter to pollinate the flowers and lay their own eggs. The resulting fruit grows to 1.8 centimetre (0.708661417322835 in) in diameter and turns from green to purple with maturity. On average in Panama, F. yoponensis produce a new flush of leaves every 20 weeks and flower every 25 weeks. The species is similar in appearance to Ficus insipida
Ficus insipida
Ficus insipida is a tropical tree in the fig genus of the family Moraceae. It ranges from Mexico to South America, and is commonly found in cloud forest above 1,550 meters ASL.-Description and ecology:...
but has smaller leaves, stipules and fruits and only occurs in primary forest whereas F. insipida is also found in secondary forest
Secondary forest
A secondary forest is a forest or woodland area which has re-grown after a major disturbance such as fire, insect infestation, timber harvest or windthrow, until a long enough period has passed so that the effects of the disturbance are no longer evident...
.
Distribution
Ficus yoponensis is found in Central and South America from ChiapasChiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
in Mexico in the north to Colombia and Venezuela in the south. It grows from sea level to 1600 metres (5,249.3 ft) above sea level but is usually found between 500 to 1200 m (1,640.4 to 3,937 ft). Along with F. insipida it is one of the two most abundant species of fig tree found on Barro Colorado Island
Barro Colorado Island
Barro Colorado Island is located in the man-made Gatun Lake in the middle of the Panama Canal. The island was formed when the waters of the Chagres River were dammed to form the lake. When the waters rose, they covered a significant part of the existing rainforest, and the hilltops remained as...
, Panama (BCI).
Ecology
Ficus yoponensis is pollinated by the fig wasp TetrapusTetrapus
Tetrapus is a genus of fig wasp native to the Americas. Fig wasps have an obligate mutualism with the fig species they pollinate. Tetrapus pollinates figs in the subgenus Pharmacosycea....
ecuadoranus: 58% of figs are fertilised by only one female.
The fruits and leaves of F. yoponensis are eaten by several species. The fruits are eaten by bat
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
s, which then disperse their seeds. The stipules and fruits are collected by the leaf cutter ant, Atta colombica
Atta colombica
Atta colombica is one of 41 species of leafcutter ant. This species is part of the Attini tribe .-Description:Workers of this species are maroon in colour, and are entirely matte, with no shiny spots.-Distribution:...
. The leaves and fruits are the preferred fruit of howler monkey
Howler monkey
Howler monkeys are among the largest of the New World monkeys. Fifteen species are currently recognised. Previously classified in the family Cebidae, they are now placed in the family Atelidae. These monkeys are native to South and Central American forests...
s (Alouatta palliata), with one troop on Barro Colorado Island spending one quarter of its time feeding on F. yoponensis or F. insipida. Spider monkey
Spider monkey
Spider monkeys of the genus Ateles are New World monkeys in the subfamily Atelinae, family Atelidae. Like other atelines, they are found in tropical forests of Central and South America, from southern Mexico to Brazil...
s (Ateles geoffroyi) also feed on the leaves, which contain 11% protein and 4% sugars and remain similar in chemical composition throughout their lifespan, unlike most tree species. When fresh, the young leaves contain up to 585 mg of ascorbic acid
Ascorbic acid
Ascorbic acid is a naturally occurring organic compound with antioxidant properties. It is a white solid, but impure samples can appear yellowish. It dissolves well in water to give mildly acidic solutions. Ascorbic acid is one form of vitamin C. The name is derived from a- and scorbutus , the...
(vitamin C
Vitamin C
Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid or L-ascorbate is an essential nutrient for humans and certain other animal species. In living organisms ascorbate acts as an antioxidant by protecting the body against oxidative stress...
) per 100 grams (3.5 oz) and the fruits contain 268 mg per 100 g. Like humans A. palliata and A. geoffroyi require vitamin C in their diet, since they do not possess the gene for L-gulonolactone oxidase
L-gulonolactone oxidase
L-gulonolactone oxidase is an enzyme that catalyzes the reaction of D-glucuronolactone with oxygen to L-xylo-hex-3-gulonolactone and hydrogen peroxide. It uses FAD as a cofactor...
, the enzyme required to convert glucose to ascorbic acid. The fruits of F. yoponensis contain more vitamin C than any other fruit available to the monkeys on Barro Colorado Island.
Various invertebrates live in water-filled holes
Phytotelmata
Phytotelma is a term for water bodies held by plants. The water accumulated on these plants may serve as substratum for associated fauna, and often the fauna associated with phytotelmata is unique....
into which leaf litter falls; as it decomposes it provides food for the animals. The leaves of F. yoponensis soften quickly after falling into the holes and are then eaten by Scirtid beetle larvae, leaving only a skeleton behind. An experiment in the rainforest, where leaves of F. yoponensis were added to an artificial pool containing 650 ml of water found that sixteen species lived in them, with the mosquito Culex mollis being the most abundant. Yanoviak found that the average volume of the holes was 0.3 litre (0.52792642817297 imp pt) and that they contained 67 individual animals.
External links
- Ficus yoponensis at Discover Life, including photographs.