FICUS SYCOMORUS FRUIT PRODUCTION IN A SEMI ARID LAND IN NORTHERN KENYA: IMPLICATIONS FOR UNDERSTANDING A POSSIBLE FOOD RESOURCE OF EARLY HOMINIDS

Abstract

Food production of riverine forest in semi arid land, or patchy vegetation in northern Kenya is much needed for discussing the habitat of early hominids. This study aims to estimate the fruit production of Ficus sycomorus along the Baragoi River in Nachola and Baragoi, northern Kenya, possible source for the Pliocene australopithecines. As the largest fruit producer in the forest, the population of F. sycomorus in this riverine forest is counted and the Basal Area of all individuals measured. The number of fruits and their weights are also measured. The total production can be estimated to know the carrying capacity of this forest. The energy yielded by F. sycomorus of this population calculated is at least 74, 500 kcal per day. This amount of energy suggests enough for a small group of early hominids during the period of food scarcity.