Summary of The Queen of Trees - OFFICIAL

00:00:00 - 00:50:00

The Queen of Trees is a fig tree that is essential to the African ecosystem. The tree relies on a tiny fig wasp for pollination and the wasp in turn relies on the tree for food. The relationship between the two is symbiotic and benefits both parties.

• 00:00:00 This video tells the story of the sycamore fig, an extraordinary tree found throughout tropical Africa. The tree depends on a tiny fig wasp partner for reproduction, and the wasps arrive to pollinate the flowers every few months. The tree's delicate perfume attracts a flock of fig wasps, who lay their eggs inside the gall capsules. The wasps will soon die, but their offspring will live on.
• 00:05:00 In this video, we see the queen of a fig tree defend her leaves and young figs from insects. The insects that attack the tree include fig Katydids, vinegar flies, and mantis. The fig tree is an important part of the ecosystem, and its loss would have a significant impact on the surrounding area.
• 00:10:00 The queen of trees, a large fig tree, is defended by ants and wasps. The wasps drill through the gate to lay eggs, while the ants capture and bite any parasites they find. The wasps and ants share the tree's bounty, with the ants receiving a stream of honeydew in return.
• 00:15:00 This video tells the story of a hornbill chick and its family, which are struggling to survive during a drought. The hornbill chicks differ in size and order because their eggs were laid at different times and hatched at different times. The oldest chick dominates the food supply, and the chicks start to plaster up the hole in the nest when their mother leaves to help feed her family. The rains awaken some ants who have been sleeping, and they bring the expected flush of insects, but the youngest chick is unable to feed because the larger chick dominates the food supply. The queen needs all the help she can get to fight against the cicadas, and the ants have changed their allegiance and are too busy drinking to protect the tree. The hornbill chicks and their family are able to survive the drought and return to the nest later with food.
• 00:20:00 The video follows the life cycle of a queen fig wasp, from when they hatch from their galls to when they emerge as fully grown wasps. The queen wasps are the only ones able to produce figs, and as the wasps emerge from their galls, they look different from their mates. Eventually, all the wasps will have emerged and they will be ready to lay eggs and start the cycle all over again.
• 00:25:00 The video discusses the queen of trees, a fig wasp that helps spread pollen to other trees. The wasps hatch from parasites and must escape the fig, while the nematode worms try to kill them. After cutting flowers and releasing the females, the males die. The wasps then spread pollen and fly away.
• 00:30:00 In this video, we see how a small day gecko helps support the wasps in their search for food. The gecko uses quick reactions and good eyesight to intercept the fig wasps, which in turn helps to feed the wasps and keep them safe. After the wasps have collected enough food, they fly away and plant the queen's seeds.
• 00:35:00 The fig tree is a vital part of the African ecosystem, and is responsible for spreading its fruit far and wide to feed a variety of animals. In order to ensure a robust fig tree population, each tree will fruit at random several times a year. This benefits not only the fig tree, but also the animals that eat its fruit, the pollinators that rely on it, and the people who live near it.
• 00:40:00 The video discusses the various ways in which various organisms exploit and benefit from one another. The video highlights the example of the queen of trees, who provides food and shelter to insects in turn providing food and shelter to other creatures. The video also discusses how the bees rely on the fig tree for food, without which the bees would not survive in the wild.
• 00:45:00 The Queen of Trees is a fig tree that lives near a waterway. Fruit bats are the main dispersers of its seeds, and they eat fig pulp that contains nematodes. The queen must lay her eggs before she dies, and she is often alone in the garden while the gate to the fig tree is closing.
• 00:50:00 The Queen of Trees is a tiny wasp that exchanges pollen with a tree in order to perpetuate the relationship. The tree provides fruit for animals, disperses the queen's seeds, and the queen in turn provides the tree with pollination. The tree eventually produces its first fig, and the wasp returns to find the source of the fragrance.