DO you have fig trees in your garden or close to you?
Fig is one of the largest plant genera with more than 750 described species worldwide, roughly 110 species in Africa and Madagascar; and 48 species in the Southern Africa region. Most fruit-eating bats and birds feed on Fig, therefore it is important ecologically.
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As part of my PhD project in Ecological Sciences at the School of Life Sciences, University of KZN, Pietermaritzburg Campus, I am conducting research on the importance of figs as keystone fruiting species for birds and bats, across a forest-urban gradient of KZN.
I would like to investigate visitation rates by birds and bats and find out at what time each species of figs fruits and what fruit-eating birds and bats visit at each point.
If you have figs on your properties or garden or know where we can find these trees, we will really appreciate if you could let us know.
Please contact me, Raji Islamiat Abidemi (abiraj4success@gmail.com, Whatsapp contact: +2348138968337 or Prof Downs downs@ukzn.ac.za or 033 260 5127 at the School of Life Sciences, University of KZN, Scottsville.
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