Stangler Figs Pyramid
Kristin Barry
BIO 220
February 13, 2013
Volsteen
I would have to stay that Strangler Figs have the biggest impact on tropical rainforest. Stangler Figs is an important plant species that is in the rainforest ecosystem. There are thousands of different types or species of these figs. Strangler Figs and their species are considered to be called a keystone in tropical rainforest. Keystone species are species that play critical roles in maintaining structure of an ecological community (Klappenbach (n.d.)). Strangler Figs can be found can be found in every major island and tropical rainforest around the world. Many species of animals benefit from Strangler Figs. Monkeys, Parrots, Pigeons, fruit-eating bats, and other species feed on the strangler figs sweet fruits (Benders-Hyde, 2002). They bear fruits several times throughout the year which is the main component to of many different animals diet. There are different types of fig fruits at different times annually. Herbivores and omnivores eat these fig fruits. It is known that up to 70% of an rainforest animals diets depend on these figs. Then the number of fruit-eaters also depends on the number of predators. Strangler Figs begin life in branches of another tree species they can be high as or higher than 148 ft (Encyclopedia). When animals eat the fruits and drop the seeds or found in animal droppings too, there become seed sprouts. A fig tree will then began to grow rapidly, which then began to strangle host trees, which then rob it of light and nutrients. The strangler fig species was exstinted then many of the fruit-eaters would die off and so would the fruit-eater preditors. Preservation of the strangler fig would depend on humans not over consuming all of the natural resources and keystone producers by searching and mining in tropical rainforest. Tropical rainforest are major producers not only for animals but for humans and medicine that can be found only in tropical rainforest.
BIO 220
February 13, 2013
Volsteen
I would have to stay that Strangler Figs have the biggest impact on tropical rainforest. Stangler Figs is an important plant species that is in the rainforest ecosystem. There are thousands of different types or species of these figs. Strangler Figs and their species are considered to be called a keystone in tropical rainforest. Keystone species are species that play critical roles in maintaining structure of an ecological community (Klappenbach (n.d.)). Strangler Figs can be found can be found in every major island and tropical rainforest around the world. Many species of animals benefit from Strangler Figs. Monkeys, Parrots, Pigeons, fruit-eating bats, and other species feed on the strangler figs sweet fruits (Benders-Hyde, 2002). They bear fruits several times throughout the year which is the main component to of many different animals diet. There are different types of fig fruits at different times annually. Herbivores and omnivores eat these fig fruits. It is known that up to 70% of an rainforest animals diets depend on these figs. Then the number of fruit-eaters also depends on the number of predators. Strangler Figs begin life in branches of another tree species they can be high as or higher than 148 ft (Encyclopedia). When animals eat the fruits and drop the seeds or found in animal droppings too, there become seed sprouts. A fig tree will then began to grow rapidly, which then began to strangle host trees, which then rob it of light and nutrients. The strangler fig species was exstinted then many of the fruit-eaters would die off and so would the fruit-eater preditors. Preservation of the strangler fig would depend on humans not over consuming all of the natural resources and keystone producers by searching and mining in tropical rainforest. Tropical rainforest are major producers not only for animals but for humans and medicine that can be found only in tropical rainforest.
References: Klappenbach, L. (n.d.). About.com. Retrieved from February 12,2013 http://animals.about.com/od/animalswildlife101/f/keystonespecies.htm Benders-Hyde , E. (2002). Blueplanetbiomes. Retrieved from http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/strangler_figs.htm Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from February 12, 2013 http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/568081/strangler-fig