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Short communication

Vertebrate assemblage at a fruiting fig (Ficus caulocarpa) in Maliau basin, Malaysia [ 218-227 ]

Rachakonda Sreekar, Nghiem Thi Phuong Le, and Rhett D. Harrison

Abstract
We analyzed the species composition and abundance of birds and mammals at a fruiting hemi-epiphytic fig (Ficus caulocarpa) in Maliau Basin, Sabah, Malaysia. Observations were conducted for 32 hours over five days. Forty-four species of birds and three mammal species were recorded. Of these, 28 birds and 2 mammals fed on the figs. In addition, nine species of insectivorous or omnivorous birds that did not feed on the figs were observed foraging in the tree, presumably on the large quantities of fig wasps produced. Inter- and intra-specific aggression was also observed among the species foraging in the tree. Overall the assemblage of large birds, such as hornbills, and mammals was poor, which seems to be due to the small size of the figs (<6 mm diameter) rather than a scarcity of these animals in the area. In contrast, the diversity of smaller bird species, especially the Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls) which comprised 13 species and 68% of visits, was high. Our results suggest fig-frugivore interactions may be more finely structured than reports from other, less pristine sites in Asia have indicated. Moreover, 34% of the birds observed are threatened or more severely endangered. We suggest that planting of hemi-epiphytic fig seedlings could be used to enhance the conservation value of small reserves and degraded forests, and that observations at fruiting figs could be used as an efficient method for assessing how well reserves are protected.


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    English: Figs fruit year round in tropical forests and hence are available to fruit-eating animals when other more seasonal fruit are scarce. For this reason, fig fruit are often refer to as keystone resources and are fed on by very large proportion of vertebrate species in tropical forests (up to 42 % of bird and 73 % of mammal species in Borean forests). However, fruit-eating animals are also vulnerable to hunting and are increasingly difficult to observe at natural levels of abundance. We had the opportunity to study the community of fruit-eaters at a large Ficus caulocarpa individual in a remote undisturbed forest in Borneo. We found that Ficus caulocarpa, which has very small figs, was particularly important in the diet of small birds, but less so for larger birds and mammals. These results suggest that fig – fruit-eater interactions may be more specialised than was previously thought based on reports from more disturbed sites in Asia. In addition, 34% of the birds we observed are ranked by the IUCN as threatened or more severely at risk, indicating figs may be an important resource for many endangered species. Thus, we suggest the conservation value of smaller reserves and degraded forest could be enhanced by planting fig seedlings. We also suggest that brief observations at fruiting fig trees, as we conducted, may be an efficient method for assessing how intact the fruit-eater community is, and by extension whether a reserve is well protected or not.

    Español: En este artículo, Sreekar y coautores enfatizan el papel que juegan las higueras silvestres como recursos clave para los frugivores de las selvas tropicales. Las higueras producen frutos a través del año, los cuales están disponibles para un amplio número de animales frugívoros, cuando frutos más estacionales son escasos. Sin embargo, los autores señalan, que los animales frugívoros son vulnerables a la cacería por el humano y por consiguiente muy difíciles de observar a los niveles de abundancia natural de estos. Con esto en mente, los autores documentan la comunidad de frugívoros que visitaron una higuera de gran talla, Ficus caulocarpa, en una zona remota de selvas poco perturbadas en Borneo. Ellos descubrieron que la higuera produce frutos muy chicos, que son muy importantes en la dieta de aves pequeñas, pero no para las aves y mamíferos de mayor tamaño. Esto los lleva a sugerir que debido a esta diferencia, las interacciones entre higueras y frugivores podrían ser más especializadas que lo que se había pensado, basándose en lo reportado para sitios menos conservados en el sur de Asia, que el estudiado por ellos. Los autores notan que debido a que el 34% de las aves que ellos observaron visitando la higuera están en la lista roja de la IUCN, que es muy probable que las higueras silvestres son un recurso importante para muchas especies amenazadas. También sugieren que el valor conservacionista de reservas pequeñas y de selvas degradadas, podría ser aumentado a través de la siembra de higueras silvestres.

    Português: Figueiras frutificam o ano todo em florestas tropicais e portanto estão disponíveis aos animais frugívoros quando outros recursos mais sazonais estão escassos. Por essa razão, figos são sempre considerados como recursos chave e são utilizados como alimento por uma grande proporção de espécies de vertebrados em florestas tropicais (mais de 42 % de espécies de aves e 73 % de mamíferos nas florestas Boreais). Entretanto, animais frugívoros são também vulneráveis à caça e são cada vez mais difíceis de se observar nos níveis naturais de abundância. Tivemos a oportunidade de estudar a comunidade de frugívoros em um grande indivíduo de Ficus caulocarpa em uma floresta remota e não perturbada em Borneo. Encontramos que Ficus caulocarpa, que tem figos muito pequenos, foi particularmente importante na dieta de aves de pequeno porte, mas nem tanto na de grandes aves e mamíferos. Esses resultados sugerem que essas interações figo – frugívoros podem ser mais especializadas do que se pensava anteriormente baseado nos relatos de áreas mais perturbadas na Ásia. Além do mais, 34% das aves que observamos são listadas pela IUCN como ameaçados ou mais severamente em risco, indicando que os figos podem ser um recurso importante para muitas espécies ameaçadas. Dessa forma, sugerimos que os valores conservacionistas das pequenas reservas e florestas degradadas devem ser aumentados pelo plantio de plântulas de figos. Nós também sugerimos que observações breves em figueiras frutificadas, como nós realizamos, podem ser um método eficiente para estimar quão intacta a comunidade de frugívoros está, e por extensão o quão uma reserva está protegida ou não

    Français: Les figuiers fructifient tout au long de l’année en forêt tropicale et sont donc disponibles pour les animaux frugivores quand les autres fruits, plus saisonniers, sont rares. C’est pour cette raison que l’on fait souvent référence aux fruits de figuiers comme une ressource clef de voûte, ils sont consommés par une large proportion de vertébrés dans les forêts tropicales (jusqu’à 42% des oiseaux et 73% des mammifères en forêt de Bornéo). Cependant, les frugivores sont aussi vulnérables à la chasse et sont de plus en plus difficiles à observer à des niveaux naturels d’abondance. Nous avons eu l’opportunité d’étudier la communauté de frugivores sur un grand spécimen de Ficus caulocarpa dans une forêt isolée et non perturbée à Bornéo. Nous avons trouvé que Ficus caulocarpa, qui possède de très petites figues, étaient particulièrement important dans le régime alimentaire des petits oiseaux, mais moins dans celui des plus grands oiseaux et des mammifères. Ces résultats suggèrent que l’interaction figues/frugivores doit être plus spécialisée que ce que l’on pensait auparavant d’après des rapports sur des sites plus perturbés en Asie. De plus, 34% des oiseaux que nous avons observés sont classés par l’UICN comme menacés ou plus sévèrement en danger, ceci indique que les figues doivent être une ressource importante pour de nombreuses espèces en danger. Par conséquent, nous suggérons que la valeur des réserves plus petites ainsi que des forêts dégradées, en termes de conservation, pourrait être amélioré en plantant des plants de figuiers. Nous suggérons aussi que l’observation de figuiers en fructification, comme nous avons menée, semble être une méthode efficace pour évaluer l’état de santé de la communauté frugivore et par extension savoir si la réserve est bien protégée.
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   Tropical Conservation Science is an open-access e-journal that publishes research relating to conservation of tropical forests and other tropical ecosystems.

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