Within-crown asynchrony of Ficus pertusa (Moraceae), November 2008

Alternative Title

Dentro de la sincrónica corona de Ficus pertusa (Moraceae)

Creator

Hannah Lippe

Files

Publication Date

November 2008

Abstract

Well-supported theory says that populations of Ficus species reproduce asynchronously across populations and synchronously within individual trees. However, recent studies in the Monteverde area have found evidence for within-crown asynchrony for Ficus tuerckheimii, a large strangler fig, and hinted at within-crown asynchrony for Ficus pertusa, a small free-standing tree. I tested the prediction that fig tree populations are asynchronous and individuals are synchronous by looking at fifteen F. pertusa trees with fruits. I looked for microclimate effects on flowering synchrony as a result of uneven sun exposure within a crown. As predicted, the population was asynchronous, but 13 out of the 15 trees displayed within-crown asynchrony. The interval distance between successive development stages was never greater than two, showing that asynchrony is slight. No consistent trends were found across positions, indicating that sun exposure may not create a differential in syconia development. Microclimate effects did not influence asynchrony, suggesting that within-crown asynchrony, a supposed anomaly, could be an adaptive consequence of other physiological or ecological factors.

Resumen

La teoría bien apoyada dice que Ficus spp. se reproduce asíncronamente a través de poblaciones y síncronamente dentro de los árboles individuales. Sin embargo, estudios recientes en el área de Monteverde han encontrado evidencia de asincronía dentro del dosel para Ficus tuerckheimii, un higuerón grande y estrangulador, e insinuado que hay asincronía dentro del dosel en Ficus pertusa, un árbol pequeño y auto estable. He probado la predicción de que las poblaciones de higuerones son asíncronas y los individuales son sincrónicos por haber observado a los quince árboles F. pertusa con frutas.

Keywords

Ficus (Plants), Cloud forest ecology, Cloud forest ecology--Costa Rica, CIEE Fall 2008

Palabras claves

Ficus (Plantas), Ecología del bosque nuboso, CIEE Otoño 2008

Extent

13 pages

Geographic Location

Monteverde (Puntarenas, Costa Rica)

Holding Location

Monteverde Institute

Language

English; Spanish

Media Type

Articles

Format

Digital Only

Identifier

M39-00488

Type

Book

Recommended Citation

Lippe, Hannah, "Within-crown asynchrony of Ficus pertusa (Moraceae), November 2008" (2008). Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation. 515.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tropical_ecology/515