Fig development in two Neotropical Ficus species, Ficus (subg. Pharmacosycea) yoponensis and Ficus (subg. Spherosuke) colubrinae: comparing rainforest and pasture trees

Abstract

In the fragmented landscape of Los Tuxtlas, adult fig trees are found in both rainforest remnants and in pastures. Syconium (fig) development is known to vary between and within Ficus species, but it is not known whether it differs between rainforest and pasture trees. Here, we describe syconium development for two Ficus species with different life forms (free-standing and hemi-epiphytic) in two contrasting, adjacent habitats: an undisturbed rainforest and active pastures. Over three months, we monitored 15 reproductive events in Ficus (subg. Pharmacosycea) yoponensis Desv. and Ficus (subg. Spherosuke) colubrinae Standl., collecting and dissecting syconia every 3–4 days (1291 and 815 syconia per species, respectively). External and internal structural changes in the syconia are described, including foundress occurrence and the maximum duration of the receptive phase while waiting for pollinators. The duration of both the reproductive events (<8 weeks) and the developmental phases in the two species did not differ between rainforest and pasture trees and are within the lower range of time reported for other Ficus species. After pollinator exclusion, the receptive phase lasted up to four times its normal duration. Syconia were slightly larger in rainforest trees than in pasture trees, and the infestation of F. yoponensis syconia by non-pollinating insects was higher in rainforest trees.