An Introduction

      Early ideas that plant species found in inclement conditions may benefit from reproductive assurance via mixed selfed and outcrossed fertilization were noted as early as Darwin.  These same ideas have been suggested multiple times but never tested for the genus Ficus.  We are currently using codominant allozyme markers to analyze half/full sib seedling arrays for (1) direct evidence of mixed mating in our offspring arrays (2) indirect evidence of partial selfing by increased within population inbreeding (3) identification of pollen donors and dispersal distances.

      Ficus petiolaris is of noted conservation concern because its delicate obligate pollinator mutualism has been predicted to be susceptible to stochastic environmental events.  Mating system analysis gives us a two-fold advantage because by tracing pollen dynamics we can begin to formulate hypotheses about life-history traits of the pollinator wasps and how consequences of those traits may influence the fate of the fig trees themselves.

Clonal Identification 

      Ficus petiolaris is often observed in the field in aggregated clusters around fig sustaining areas (often times large granite outcroppings).  We are currently investigating whether these aggregations are a result of cryptic clonal growth or if they are a result of correlated germinations.  Often times as plant species approach their range margins, increased reproduction via vegetative growth may provide a selective fitness advantage. If clonal growth is occurring it means that our original demographic estimates of population sizes will be an underestimate of the number of genetically distinct individuals within populations.  This reduction in population size within a highly specific obligate pollinator mutualism may effectively outweigh fitness benefits of persistence gained through vegetative reproduction.