Ficus yoponensis

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Ficus yoponensis

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Moraceae
Genus: Ficus
Subgenus: F. subg. Pharmacosycea
Species:
F. yoponensis
Binomial name
Ficus yoponensis
Desv.
Synonyms[2]
  • Ficus multinervis
    Pittier
  • Ficus tobagensis
    Urb.

Ficus yoponensis is a species of

primary forest whereas F. insipida is also found in secondary forest.[3][4]

Distribution

Ficus yoponensis is found in Central and South America from Chiapas in Mexico in the north to Colombia and Venezuela in the south. It grows from sea level to 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) above sea level but is usually found between 500 and 1,200 metres (1,600 and 3,900 ft).[3] Along with F. insipida it is one of the two most abundant species of fig tree found on Barro Colorado Island, Panama.[6]

Ecology

Ficus yoponensis is pollinated by the fig wasp Tetrapus ecuadoranus: 58% of figs are fertilised by only one female.[7]

The fruits and leaves of F. yoponensis are eaten by several species. The fruits are eaten by

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.[12]

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 litres (0.53 imp pt) and that they contained 67 individual animals.[13]

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T146765804A146773921.en
    . Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Ficus yoponensis Desv". The Plant List. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8047-0950-7
    . Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-0-691-14710-9
    . Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  5. JSTOR 2260781
    .
  6. ISBN 978-0-12-178075-3
    . Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  7. PMID 12427319
    .
  8. ISBN 978-3-540-43896-0
    . Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  9. ISBN 978-0-226-06339-3
    . Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  10. ISBN 978-0-226-65622-9
    . Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  11. JSTOR 2460457. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 2012-03-09.
  12. PMID 3104078
    .
  13. doi:10.1007/s004420050843
    .

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ficus_yoponensis&oldid=1191426393"