How Is Strangler Fig Tree A Parasitism Relationship Explained In Biology
1 the strangler fig tree, a common species in tropical forests, establishes a parasitic relationship with host trees 2 initially, strangler fig seeds germinate in the canopy of a host tree, often deposited by birds or other animals after consuming the fig's fruit However, whereas the mistletoe is content to remain relatively small as it sits on the host tree, the strangling fig continues to grow. In a british wood you can often see ivy plants snaking upwards along the trunks of trees, like oak. Ivy is not technically a parasite, it doesnt draw food from trees. The relationship between the strangler fig and the cypress tree is primarily commensalistic, where the strangler fig benefits without directly harming the cypress.
Therefore, describing this relationship as parasitism is not entirely accurate. Not only is the strangler fig physically well adapted to its environment, but it has also developed both mutualistic and parasitic relationships with other species in order to ensure its survival. Its fruit also serve as the main food source for many species of mammals and aves. Strangler figs, commonly seen enveloping other trees in tropical rainforests, are often misunderstood as parasitic organisms. While their growth profoundly impacts host trees, these fascinating plants do not fit the biological definition of a parasite. Strangler figs and other strangler species are common in tropical forests throughout the world. Although a strangler fig often smothers and outcompetes its host, there is some evidence that trees encased in strangler figs are more likely to survive tropical cyclones, suggesting that the relationship can be somewhat mutualistic. A parasitic nightmare that lives on other tropical trees, stealing their soil nutrients, water, and even sunlight through a canopy of dense leaves and tendrillike roots that twist around the host plant (above). Eventually, the fig's roots can completely encase the host, strangling its trunk and cutting off nutrient flow until it dies and rots awayleaving just the.
Strangler Fig and Sucker Branches - Deborah Johnson
