Ficus borneensis is a locally common small strangler in the forest surrounding the Sayap Substation of Kinabalu Park.
According to the Kinabalu fig list provided by Beaman and Anderson (2004) Ficus borneensis was one the two most common stranglers on Kinabalu in hill and mountain forest between 900-1700m. The other equally common strangler on Kinabalu between 90-1700m recorded by Beaman was Ficus sumatrana. As noted by Beaman, Ficus sumatrana is a much larger strangler, often a stand alone giant tree with multiple support roots, having killed its host. Beaman & Anderson (2004) Ficus list for Kinabalu
Since the 1961-1962 Royal Society Expeditions, personal observations indicate that Ficus sumatrana is now exceedingly rare on the densely populated western and southern slopes of Kinabalu whilst the much smaller Ficus borneensis is holding its own. The most likely explanation is that the Ficus sumatrana population has collapsed in areas where the hornbill population has been hunted out whilst the much smaller sub-canopy Ficus borneensis with smaller fig fruits continues to thrive due to the abundance of barbets at all levels on Kinabalu.
Thanks to Yulinda Wahyuni, Shavez Cheema and Chun Xing WONG of 1 Stop Borneo Wildlife
