"MAST-FRUITING" OF TREES
Time of the maturation of fruit is ultimately dependent on the time of flowering. Strongly seasonal fruiting sequences ("phenology") have been observed in most tropical forest trees, independent of the degree of seasonality of rainfall. Different hypotheses have been postulated to explain these fruiting rhythms.

According to the "predator satiation hypothesis," species that fruit in unison are more likely to satiate hungry seed predators, leaving a portion of their seeds safe to germinate. This hypothesis is supported in Southeast Asian forests with "mast fruiting" years. Many dipterocarps and other unrelated taxa participate in simultaneous mast fruiting. A large proportion of flowering trees successfully develop mature fruits in mast years, whereas those fruiting outside the community peak are selected against by insect and vertebrate seed predators.