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A new book about figs

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Originally Posted by gorgi
I had pre ordered this book, and recently inquired (publisher) Unbound about its status.

The reply I got:
" ... you pledged for Ladders to Heaven - this book is still currently going through the editorial
and production process but we're intending on publishing it later this year.
As soon as we have more information we'll let you know ... ".


Hi, yes, that's right. The book is in production now. I just have to finish one illustration and my work on it will be done. I'm not sure when the book will reach the shops, but anyone who has pre-ordered it will get their copy much sooner - as soon as it is printed. Thanks again for your interest and support.
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Originally Posted by drew51
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Originally Posted by Mike_Shanahan
Hi rafaelissimmo

Yes, figs are important in the diets of chimpanzees and many other primates. In fact, figs feed more species of wild bird and mammal than any other type of fruit. During my doctoral research I tracked down records of fig-eating for about 250 Ficus species. I found that more than 10 percent of the world's bird species and 6 percent of the mammal species are known to eat figs. That was 10 years ago, and I'm sure the list has grown since then.

Best wishes
Mike


Well you're the expert, but that is a huge statement! Since you're counting every species Rubus plants (brambles- you know raspberries blackberries, thimbleberries etc) are on every continent, I highly doubt figs feed more animals then brambles. We have around 700 species, so by sheer volume alone it would seem near impossible to overcome the importance of Rubus species plants. Also you're stretching the word fruit. Figs are not really fruits right? I'm sure some Rubus experts would dispute your claim for sure.
Also with Rubus it's not just the fruit, the leaves are edible, makes a great tea. Leaves of Ficus I'm sure are toxic to many animals.
Let's look at North America, how many fruit producing ficus plants are native to North America?  Any mammal that eats figs I would bet eats berries too. I think I made my point.


Hi Drew, you're right that Rubus is widespread and that figs are not strictly fruit. Strictly, figs contain the Ficus fruit. Each pollinated flower develops into a single fruit. That aside, figs do indeed feed far more species than even Rubus. Figs occur in more habitats - from deserts to rainforests - and so encounter more species of fig-eating animals. Figs also vary more than Rubus berries in factors such as their size, scent and height above the ground. This contributes to the great diversity of animals that eats figs. That diversity includes reptiles and fish, elephants, antelopes, primates, bats, rats, bears and on and on, as well has hundreds of bird species. Check out this site where I list them all. https://figfrugivory.wordpress.com/
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Besides the good common (human) edible fig (aka) Ficus.carica; there are tons and tons of other
Ficus.xyz growing in South America, South Africa, and elsewhere ...

http://www.figweb.org/Ficus/Species_index/index.htm
http://www.figweb.org/Ficus/Species_index/afrotropical_species.htm
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Hello, Mike and, welcome! I am interested in your book and would like to pre order. I will go back to find the link to do that. Or, if it's not too much trouble, kindly respond with a link.

I am also interested in information about you; your background and, where you went to school for your Ph.D. I realize that I may have missed this informstion since I scanned through each post rather quickly. If so, kindly point me back to it.

I am also interested in knowing how you decided to study figs. What took place during your studies that brought so much interest about figs so as to want to write your thesis on the subject.

Thanks for writing about figs and, for coming here to present your work. I wish you well.

Meg
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I still disagree with you as Rubus is in all temperate zones so it's range is probably more extensive than ficus. The jungles are filled with rubus species. They can grow in desert regions, mountainous regions, and arctic regions  All the animals you listed eat Rubus too. You claim 6 percent of mammals eat ficus. That is a very low number of animals. I guess we can agree to disagree. When mammals first appeared they were small, most ate berries from the get go. So even large mammals still consume berries. Bears love them! You may be an expert in ficus plants but you are not in rubus and have already stated incorrectly the range of the plant.
For example here is a list of flora in the Sonoran desert. 4 species of rubus are listed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_flora_of_the_Sonoran_Desert_Region_by_common_name

Most Rubus species are in rainforests so your statement "deserts to rain forests" applies to rubus too.
So your premise that it occurs in more regions is grossly incorrect. Not even close. To make a claim that you did you would have to study all fruits. IMHO rubus plants are far more important to birds and mammals than ficus species plants. As evidenced by the low number of mammals you yourself document that eat ficus. I am friends with some rubus experts at UC Davis. I'll contact them and report what they say on the subject.
You may be correct, no disrespect, this is a very interesting discussion to me. Thanks for your input!
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Originally Posted by Smyfigs
Hello, Mike and, welcome! I am interested in your book and would like to pre order. I will go back to find the link to do that. Or, if it's not too much trouble, kindly respond with a link. I am also interested in information about you; your background and, where you went to school for your Ph.D. I realize that I may have missed this informstion since I scanned through each post rather quickly. If so, kindly point me back to it. I am also interested in knowing how you decided to study figs. What took place during your studies that brought so much interest about figs so as to want to write your thesis on the subject. Thanks for writing about figs and, for coming here to present your work. I wish you well. Meg


Hi Meg, thanks for your interest in the book. Here is the link to the page where you can find a synopsis, an extract, an introductory video and information on how to pre-order a copy. https://unbound.co.uk/books/ladders-to-heaven

I got into fig biology when I did my Master's degree at the University of Leeds. For my research project I went to a national park in Borneo that had more than 70 Ficus species living there. I went to study what was eating their figs and dispersing their seeds. The project grew into a PhD (you can read more about that here https://underthebanyan.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/who-eats-figs-everybody/). My book tells the story in full.

Best wishes and thanks again for writing
Mike
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Thanks for answering my questions.  I am looking forward to receiving your book when it's published.
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  • Avatar / Picture
  • gorgi
  • · Edited

I finally got the hard-bound book "Ladders to Heaven".

I enjoyed reading it all from front to back.
Basically, it is ALL about the 'generic' FICUS species, and how they shaped the insect, bird, animal, human,  etc. evolution.
Also mention how ficus species helped to establish 'healthy' green misc. tree 'forests'.

There is some hint that the forbidden GardenOfEden fruit for Adam & Eve was actually a fig (rather than an apple?).
Heck, I've seen naked pics of both of them with just a big 'fig-leaf' covering their private parts ...

UNIQUE, an outside-in flowering-fruit, with specific fig wasps helping out, randomly fruiting anytime thru the year, it was a good source of food for many.
Mentions are the F.benjamina, F.religiosa, F.banyan, F.sycomorus, (F.many root-stranglers),  our F.carica fig plus some more ...

Do not expect any discussion if F.carica 'Violette de Bordeaux' (VdB) is the same as 'Petite Nigra' (PN) or of any other varieties taste better, are hardier, or, etc .
Just a mention that we humans, much liked THE F.carica one and we later learned to selectively propagate the-best by just putting some sticks in the ground ...

Here is a useful huge list F.species web site:
http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Moraceae/Ficus/

And yes, my name is included at the end in the 'Supporters' list.

One very other important observation,  our good planet Earth is good for all life.
Very lucky with temperatures sustaining a LIQUID life-giving water (&O2).
We are just a lucky speck of dust within the very huge infinite universe.
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Originally Posted by gorgi


There is some hint that the forbidden GardenOfEden fruit for Adam & Eve was actually a fig (rather than an apple?).
Heck, I've seen naked pics of both of them with just a big 'fig-leaf' covering their private parts ...




Gotta wonder who took that picture.
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  • Avatar / Picture
  • gorgi
  • · Edited

@ fignutty; Sorry for my mistake.

By pics, I actually meant 'picture paintings'  and not 'camera' pics.

Also mentioned in the book is how we (humans) originally benefited from them figs,
and how now with our selfish big-(maybe-not) smart brains, we are now destroying many (misc) life sustaining forests.
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