Journal ArticleDOI
Herbivory on Handroanthus ochraceus (Bignoniaceae) along a successional gradient in a tropical dry forest
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The results suggest that the described herbivory patterns are robust for advanced successional stages (intermediate and late) of the SDTFs, but may not apply to earlysuccessional stages of these forests.Abstract:
This study determined the temporal patterns of herbivory on Handroanthus ochraceus (Cham.) Mattos (Bignoniaceae) along a successional gradient in a seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) in southeastern Brazil. We assessed the diversity of free-feeding herbivore insects (sap-suckers and leaf-chewers), leaf herbivory rates, leaf nitrogen content, phenolic compounds, and spider abundance through the rainy season in three different successional stages (early, intermediate, and late). Sampling was conducted in December, at the beginning of the rainy season (with fully expanded young leaves), February (mid-aged leaves), and April, at the end of rainy season (old leaves). Fifteen reproductive trees of H. ochraceus were sampled per successional stage in each month of sampling. Herbivore diversity was highest in the early stage of succession, but herbivory rates were highest in the intermediate and late stages. This result was probably related to differences in herbivore community composition and leaf quality across successional stages. The highest herbivore abundance was found in April in the early successional stage. In addition, we found low levels of herbivory in the intermediate and late successional stages in the second half of the rainy season. For each successional stage, leaf nitrogen content decreased through the rainy season, whereas the concentration of phenolic compounds increased. For the intermediate and late successional stages, the temporal changes that took place as the rainy season progressed corroborated the following hypotheses postulated for SDTFs: (1) both the abundance of chewing insects and herbivory rates decreased, (2) the abundance of natural enemies (i.e., spiders) increased, and (3) leaf quality decreased. These results suggest that the described herbivory patterns are robust for advanced successional stages (intermediate and late) of the SDTFs, but may not apply to early successional stages of these forests.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
On the factors that promote the diversity of herbivorous insects and plants in tropical forests
TL;DR: The strong connections found between insect specialization, plant defense divergence, and plant and insect diversities suggest that increasing the understanding of the ecology of biological communities can aid in considerations of how to preserve biodiversity in the future.
Journal Article
Arthropods of Tropical Forests. Spatio-temporal Dynamics and Resource Use in the Canopy
Journal ArticleDOI
Insect Herbivores and Leaf Damage along Successional and Vertical Gradients in a Tropical Dry Forest
Frederico de Siqueira Neves,Jhonathan O. Silva,Jhonathan O. Silva,Mário M. Espírito-Santo,Geraldo Wilson Fernandes +4 more
TL;DR: A decrease in insect richness and abundance is detected at the end of the rainy season in a Brazilian TDF, probably due to a synchronization of insect activity with the availability of young, highly nutritious plant tissues.
Journal ArticleDOI
Insect herbivory along environmental gradients
TL;DR: It is hoped that future research into insect herbivory along environmental gradients will take into account herbvory other than just leaf chewing, such as sap sucking, which may cause more damage to plants, as well as damage to a young leaf may be more costly to a plant thandamage to a mature or senescing leaf.
Journal ArticleDOI
Leaf traits and herbivory on deciduous and evergreen trees in a tropical dry forest
TL;DR: An adaptive convergence on leaf traits primarily related to water stress for different species within each phenological group is suggested, although the fitness consequences of the absolute difference in leaf damage between evergreen and deciduous species remain unclear.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
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TL;DR: In this paper, methods for quantitative analysis of anthocyanins, leuco-anthocyanin, flavanols, and total phenols in plant tissue extracts are described.
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