Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
.......................................................................................................
Competing for Light at Any Cost
Strangler figs of the Moraceae family are abundant in all tropical rainforest regions. They provide
an important food source for many tropical animals. Each fig species has a specific wasp that is its
exclusive pollinator. Strangler figs reach high into the canopy and can become trees of the emer-
gent layer, competing with the host tree for space and light. If the strangler wins, the host tree will
eventually die because of shading, constriction of bark, or competition for resources. Once dead,
the host tree will rot away, leaving what looks like a tree with a hollow inside, and the strangler,
once an epiphytic fig plant now becomes an independent, often majestic, tree (see Figure 2.13).
Figure 2.13 Strangler figs will often outcompete their host tree for resources. When the
host tree dies, a hollow space is left.
(Photo by author.)
......................................................................................................
grow. These particles are the source of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and other
minerals and nutrients needed for plant growth. Epiphytes can develop a root mass
within the canopy that serves as a reservoir for moisture and nutrients often used
