Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/51810
Title: Climate Change Threatens a Fig-Frugivore Mutualism at its Drier, Western Range Margin
Contributor(s): Mackay, K David  (author)orcid ; Gross, C L  (author)orcid 
Publication Date: 2019-04-10
Open Access: Yes
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/51810
Open Access Link: https://openjournals.library.sydney.edu.au/index.php/LIN/article/view/13397Open Access Link
Abstract: Ficus rubiginosa (the Rusty Fig; Moraceae) provides a keystone food resource for a diverse array of vertebrate frugivores in eastern Australia. These frugivores, in turn, provide vital seed-dispersal services to the fig. The aims of this study were to investigate impacts of population size and climatic variation on avian-frugivore visitation to F. rubiginosa at the extreme western, drier margin of the species' range. Eighty-two bird species visited F. rubiginosa trees in this three-year study. Twenty-nine species were frugivores or omnivorous frugivore/insectivores. The number of ripe fruit in a tree had the greatest positive influence on frugivore visitation (p < 0.0001). Fig-population size influenced the assemblage of frugivore species visiting trees but not the number of frugivores or the rate of frugivore visitation. The number of ripe fruit in a tree was negatively associated with declines in rainfall, to total losses of standing crops through dieback and lack of crop initiation. Predicted long-term declines in rainfall across this region of eastern Australia and increased incidence of drought will lead to reduced crop sizes in F. rubiginosa and likely reduce the viability of local populations of this keystone fig. This will threaten the mutualism between F. rubiginosa and frugivores across the region.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, v.141, p. S1-S17
Publisher: Linnean Society of New South Wales
Place of Publication: Australia
ISSN: 1839-7263
0370-047X
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 410402 Environmental assessment and monitoring
310804 Plant developmental and reproductive biology
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 180604 Rehabilitation or conservation of terrestrial environments
190504 Effects of climate change on Australia (excl. social impacts)
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Publisher/associated links: https://openjournals.library.sydney.edu.au/index.php/LIN/article/view/13397
Appears in Collections:Journal Article
School of Environmental and Rural Science
UNE Business School

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