The Sycamore Fig: The Queen of Africa's Trees

Introduction

• The sycamore fig is known as the queen of Africa's trees.
• Lives along riverbanks in tropical Africa.
• Has a unique relationship with the fig wasp.

Unique Features of the Sycamore Fig

• Appears never to flower but fruits several times a year.
• Drops leaves irrespective of season.

Relationship with Fig Wasp

• Fig wasp is essential for sycamore fig reproduction.
• Sycamore figs provide a habitat and food source for many animals.
• Queen tree depends entirely on fig wasps for pollination and seed dispersal.

Reproduction Process

• Figs house tiny flowers that need fig wasps for pollination.
• Fig wasps, laden with pollen and eggs, enter figs to pollinate.
• Inside, flowers become seeds or werep nurseries for wasps.
• The queen tree protects the nursery with milky latex and ants.

Fig Wasp Lifecycle

• Fig wasps die soon, but their offspring live on in the fig.
• Eggs develop into wasp larvae, surrounded by protective galls.

Threats and Defenses

• Sycamore fig uses latex to defend against leaf-eating insects.
• Some insects have evolved to bypass defenses, like the fig longhorn beetle and fig katydid.
• Parasitic wasps and nematodes attack the nursery.
• Ants act as defenders against these threats but have shifting loyalties for sap.

Animals Supported by the Sycamore Fig

• Provides food for a variety of animals, including hornbills, monkeys, and ants.
• Sycamore figs feed over a hundred different kinds of birds.
• The fermented fig juice attracts insects like butterflies.

Seed Dispersal

• Birds, monkeys, and especially fruit bats help in dispersing the seeds.
• Seeds are rarely germinated beneath the tree due to seed bugs.

Ecological Importance

• Supports a wide variety of animals, creating a rich ecosystem.
• Fruits at random times, ensuring a continuous pollinator population.

Co-evolution with Fig Wasp

• Fig wasps and sycamore figs have evolved a mutualistic relationship.
• Wasp females die after pollination, fulfilling their role in the reproductive cycle.

Conclusion

• Sycamore fig’s relationship with fig wasps is a testament to coevolution.
• The cycle continues as seeds disperse and new trees grow, maintaining the balance in their ecosystem.