ABSTRACTFicus (Moraceae) is a large

ABSTRACT
Ficus (Moraceae) is a large plant genus of considerable ecological, evolutionary and conservation interest. This study focused on
the interaction between Ficus species and the vertebrates that eat their fruit (figs), thereby acting as potential seed dispersers.
Specifically, the study considered this interaction with regard to the mechanisms that allow different guilds of sympatric Ficus
species to attract differentially subsets of frugivore communities.
Fig packaging and presentation was studied in Borneo and on an island off New Guinea, the former study, of 43 Ficus
species represents the largest ever characterisation of the fruiting ecology of sympatric congeners. The Ficus species studied
exhibited considerable diversity in the size, colour, texture, height, water content, seed burden and relative yield of their figs. In
both sites, figs were eaten by a large proportion of the vertebrate fauna present. However, that frugivores were not equally
attracted to each Ficus species provided evidence of Ficus dispersal guilds. Guild membership was determined by differences in
fig packaging and presentation, with fig size, colour and height of presentation being the strongest predictors of frugivore
attraction. These traits, and therefore guild membership, showed strong phylogenetic associations. Nonetheless, apparent
adaptations to seed dispersers were also documented.
The differential attraction of frugivores means not only that competition for dis