The ecology of organisms that breed in a divided and ephemeral habitat: Insects of fallen rainforest fruit

An 8 month study of insects breeding in fallen rainforest fruit (a discrete and ephemeral habitat) was conducted at a single locality within a subtropical Australian rainforest. Comprehensive sampling of fruit at the site was made at 1-2 month intervals. Two of these surveys were complemented by baiting and sweeping for adults of frugivorous insects. Approximately 3500 insects from over 50 species emerged from 9 fruit species. The majority (> 68%) of the insect species were uncommon or rare. Host specificity varied considerably among species. Our data, together with those of a similar study by ATKINSON (1985), show considerable variation in insect abundance in figs, which is manifest among insect species, collection sites, trees and collection occasions. The patterns we documented are best explained by examining the responses of individuals of each species to their environment, rather than through concentrating on apparently secondary factors, such as aggregation and competition, as is done in coexistence studies