Strangler Figs: A Vital Keystone Species for Tropical Mammals

The strangler fig serves as a critical ecological resource in tropical forests, functioning as both a food source and a communal defecation site for numerous mammal species, according to recent field observations in Costa Rica’s cloud forests.

A survey of 169 trees identified 11 latrine sites, all located in the major forks of strangler fig trees (Ficus tuerckheimii), where mammals consistently deposit feces. Camera trap data collected at one such site documented 17 different mammal species utilizing the location for defecation, including porcupines, kinkajous and sloths.

These findings, published March 16 in the journal Ecology and Evolution, suggest that arboreal defecation sites in strangler figs may function as communication hubs across mammal species, analogous to how humans use public restrooms for social interaction beyond their primary function.