Birds and Mammals on Ficus

This study was conducted to evaluate the assemblage of birds and mammals in response to fruiting phenology of Ficus variegata at Lawachara National Park, Bangladesh between December 2009 and December 2010. 13 trees were selected for studying phenology and assemblage systematically. Trees were deciduous and fruits were available all the year round. Leaf shedding and production was highly correlated with rainfall. A total of seven mammalian species was found feeding on figs of this Ficus species which is 21% of total mammal species in Lawachara National Park. Very few species of birds were found to use this Ficus species for different purposes but no one ate figs. Of the total mammal assemblage observed in the tree, four species were globally threatened, representing 3 primate and 1 squirrel species. Globally endangered Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) was found to be most frequent in this tree (29%) while Pharey's Langur (Trachypithecus phayrei) was least frequent (4%). Moreover, globally vulnerable Hoary-bellied Squirrel (Callisciurus pygerythrus) was frequent (10%) all the study months. In addition, Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) was found feeding on trees only in winter.