碩士 / 國立東華大學 / 自然資源管理研究所 / 94 / Figs (Ficus spp., Moraceae) are important fruit resources for many frugivores, particularly during the period when other fruits are scarce, and so be called “ keystone species”. The present study was to explore the species composition of diurnal fig-eaters, their relative frequencies of consumption and the role as seed predators or potential seed dispersers to three sympatric Ficus species (monoecious F. caulocarpa, dioecious F. ampelas and F. irisana) in a karst forest in Kenting. A total of 80 sample trees of the three species were observed to record the occurrence and development of the figs as well as the frequencies of visit to the fruiting trees by different fig-eaters during Dec 2004 and Dec 2005. Four sample trees of each species/gender were chosen to monitor the development of the figs. Ten figs were collected from each sample tree since the crop began, and the diameters and colours were measured every 14 days. Ten seeds were obtained from each fig for germination experiment. The result showed that, among the sample trees of the three Ficus species, there were trees bearing figs every month. A total of two mammal species and ten bird species were seen to eat figs of the three Ficus species. More species of fig-eaters were recorded on F. caulocarpa, followed by F. ampelas and F. irisana. Among fig-eaters, Hypsipetes madagascariensis was found to be the most frequent avian visitor to the fruiting trees, while Macaca cyclopis was the most frequent mammalian visitor. According to the result of germination experiment, the development of a fig could be divided into three stages: immature (I), partly mature (II) and mature (III). And the color of figs was found to be a reliable criterion for stage determination. The fig crop of a sample tree could be identified according to the stage of the majority of figs. The tendency of each animal species as seed predators or potential seed dispersers was determined by the relative rates of its visit to fig-bearing trees in stage I versus stage III. Only M. cyclopis played the role as seed-predators for F. caulocarpa, while all the other species served as potential seed-dispersers of the three Ficus species. As for the two dioecious Ficus species, the number of fig-eating species and their relative frequencies of consumption were less for male trees than for female trees.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TW/094NDHU5148002 |
| Date | January 2005 |
| Creators | Fu-Shan Sung, 宋馥珊 |
| Contributors | Hai-Yin Wu, 吳海音 |
| Source Sets | National Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations in Taiwan |
| Language | zh-TW |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | 學位論文 ; thesis |
| Format | 59 |
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