Leaf traits and foliar herbivory in tropical dry evergreen forest of India

TLDR: Information on different leaf resource users and their food-plants provide an insight into the complex web of forest biotic interactions and such data will be valuable for biological conservation.

Abstract: We investigated leaf traits of 110 plant species and the seasonal patterns of leaf damage by diverse foliar herbivores in tropical dry evergreen forest (TDEF) on the Coromandel Coast of India. The leaves of 110 plant species of TDEF are consumed by fifty-four species of foliar herbivores that includes beetles, larvae and grasshoppers. Mean leaf damage ranged from 1.8% to 21% during the study period (2012–14). The mean leaf damage varied by season with a high value of 16.19±10.44% in monsoon, 9.66±6.66 % in pre-monsoon, 5.24±4.10 % in post-monsoon and 1.97±1.52 % in summer. Among tree species, Memecylon umbellatum showed maximum leaf damage and among liana species, Combretum albidum suffered maximum leaf damage. Information on different leaf resource users and their food-plants provide an insight into the complex web of forest biotic interactions and such data will be valuable for biological conservation.