Terrestrial Establishment of Strangler Figs in Burned Tropical Peat-Swamp Forests, Sumatra, Indonesia

Strangler figs (Ficus spp.) typically establish as epiphytes on host trees before developing ground roots. Here we document abundant terrestrial establishment of strangler figs in burned tropical peat-swamp forests of Sumatra, Indonesia. Across 3.4 ha of transects in two post-fire sites, 97% of 138 strangler fig individuals (representing 10 species) germinated directly on the ground rather than epiphytically. Ficus sundaica dominated, comprising 22% of all trees and 67% of all figs. Our findings challenge the assumption that strangler figs require epiphytic establishment and reveal unexpected ecological flexibility in degraded peatlands where active planting efforts have largely failed. Given their abundance, flexible establishment mode, and role as keystone species supporting frugivore communities, naturally regenerating strangler figs may facilitate broader ecosystem recovery in fire-damaged peat-swamp forests.