Macaranga: A Pioneer Tree Species

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Perhaps one of the most likely plants one will encounter in disturbed parts of the rainforest is the trees of the genus Macaranga. They are well known pioneer plants, a species that first colonized cleared and vacated areas after disturbance whether it man made or natural such as due to logging or fire. Macaranga trees are well equipped to live in this habitat characterized by high amount of sunlight, among others. Their leaves are large so as to be able to collect large amount of light. One example of pioneer species, Macaranga gigantea aptly displays this adaptation by having a huge leave that reach up to almost a meter long.

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A Macaranga tree growing in sunlight-exposed part of a riverbank

As a pioneer species in primary succession of the rainforest, Macaranga trees grow rather fast and out-compete other species.  Trees that initially grow under their shade would then take over as the process of succession continues.

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Starlings are regular visitor to fruiting Macaranga trees

Their adaptation to spread into new vacated habitat is also due to their fruiting characteristics for they almost fruit all year round, and produce them in large number. The fruits of Macaranga trees are generally capsular, and when ripe splits open revealing a seed surrounded by pulp. Birds especially like the fruits and a fruiting Macaranga tree is a good spot to observe frugivorous birds like starlings and bulbuls.

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