Strangler figs in a stand of dry rainforest in the lower Hunter Valley, NSW

A complete census was conducted of all hemi-epiphytic Ficus individuals wit hin a single stand of dry rainforest. Substrate analyses were conducted on the material front potential hemi-epiphyte germination sires in an attempt to understand the factors influencing the distribution of hemi-epiphytic Fi cus individuals within the stand. In all, 191 individuals of Ficus macrophy lla ssp. macrophylla (Moreton Bay fig) and 65 individuals of Ficus superba oar. henneana (deciduous fig) were found within the stand, providing a mean hemi-epiphyte density of 13.5/ha. Clear host preferences were shown for bo th fig species with two species, Olea paniculata (native olive) and Drypete s deplanchei (yellow tulip), shown to host 60 per cent and 21 per cent, res pectively, of all hemi-epiphytes within the stand These host trees are char acterised by humus pockets that accumulate in depressions on their branches and trunk, as well as in brunch axils. Their host potential is thought to be enhanced by the increased visitation of birds that feed On the fruit fro m both the hemi-epiphytes and these potential host trees. Substrate analyse s revealed that while the highly organic epiphytic and rock-surface substra tes had a high field capacity their moisture holding capacity was low. The pending of water and the reduced desiccation afforded by the microtopograph y of the germination sites ensures that these sites are more likely to main tain a viable moisture content. It appears that desiccation of the germinat ion substrate could be the major cause of the high rate of juvenile hemi-ep iphytic Ficus mortality.