Differential herbivory and successional status in five tropical tree species

Using 4 restoration plots, we performed a common garden experiment to test the hypothesis that inter-specific variation in leaf herbivory depends on the successional status of tree species of the seasonally dry tropical forest. In July of 2011, we calculated the standing levels of herbivory in 5 spe...

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Main Authors: Néstor A. Mariano, Cristina Martínez-Garza, Raúl E. Alcalá
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México 2018-11-01
Series:Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
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Online Access:https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/2347
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author Néstor A. Mariano
Cristina Martínez-Garza
Raúl E. Alcalá
author_facet Néstor A. Mariano
Cristina Martínez-Garza
Raúl E. Alcalá
author_sort Néstor A. Mariano
collection DOAJ
description Using 4 restoration plots, we performed a common garden experiment to test the hypothesis that inter-specific variation in leaf herbivory depends on the successional status of tree species of the seasonally dry tropical forest. In July of 2011, we calculated the standing levels of herbivory in 5 species at the beginning of the rainy season: Ipomoea pauciflora (early-successional), Swietenia humilis, and Pseudobombax ellipticum (intermediate-successional) and Jacaratia mexicana and Bursera linanoe (late-successional). From each individual tree, we selected 14 leaves to measure herbivory (N = 84 plants, 821 leaves). The mean leaf area lost by herbivory across the 5 tree species was 5.25%. The results evidencing differences among the categories evaluated supported our hypothesis, as herbivory increased from the late to the early-successional species. We discussed the proximate (i.e, differential leaf traits) and ultimate causes (i.e., differential selective pressures) operating on trees situated at the extreme of the successional stages that could explain the inter-specific differences in herbivory we observed. In accordance with our results, successional status should be recognized as a factor affecting herbivory in tree species in tropical dry forests.
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spelling doaj-art-8f63f1fe86a04e8ba3d7639319f4ab802025-08-20T03:49:22ZengUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoRevista Mexicana de Biodiversidad1870-34532007-87062018-11-0189410.22201/ib.20078706e.2018.4.2347Differential herbivory and successional status in five tropical tree speciesNéstor A. MarianoCristina Martínez-GarzaRaúl E. Alcalá0Universidad Autónoma del Estado de MorelosUsing 4 restoration plots, we performed a common garden experiment to test the hypothesis that inter-specific variation in leaf herbivory depends on the successional status of tree species of the seasonally dry tropical forest. In July of 2011, we calculated the standing levels of herbivory in 5 species at the beginning of the rainy season: Ipomoea pauciflora (early-successional), Swietenia humilis, and Pseudobombax ellipticum (intermediate-successional) and Jacaratia mexicana and Bursera linanoe (late-successional). From each individual tree, we selected 14 leaves to measure herbivory (N = 84 plants, 821 leaves). The mean leaf area lost by herbivory across the 5 tree species was 5.25%. The results evidencing differences among the categories evaluated supported our hypothesis, as herbivory increased from the late to the early-successional species. We discussed the proximate (i.e, differential leaf traits) and ultimate causes (i.e., differential selective pressures) operating on trees situated at the extreme of the successional stages that could explain the inter-specific differences in herbivory we observed. In accordance with our results, successional status should be recognized as a factor affecting herbivory in tree species in tropical dry forests.https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/2347Common garden experimentEarly and late successionFoliar damageInsect herbivoryLife-historyRestoration plantings
spellingShingle Néstor A. Mariano
Cristina Martínez-Garza
Raúl E. Alcalá
Differential herbivory and successional status in five tropical tree species
Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
Common garden experiment
Early and late succession
Foliar damage
Insect herbivory
Life-history
Restoration plantings
title Differential herbivory and successional status in five tropical tree species
title_full Differential herbivory and successional status in five tropical tree species
title_fullStr Differential herbivory and successional status in five tropical tree species
title_full_unstemmed Differential herbivory and successional status in five tropical tree species
title_short Differential herbivory and successional status in five tropical tree species
title_sort differential herbivory and successional status in five tropical tree species
topic Common garden experiment
Early and late succession
Foliar damage
Insect herbivory
Life-history
Restoration plantings
url https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/2347
work_keys_str_mv AT nestoramariano differentialherbivoryandsuccessionalstatusinfivetropicaltreespecies
AT cristinamartinezgarza differentialherbivoryandsuccessionalstatusinfivetropicaltreespecies
AT raulealcala differentialherbivoryandsuccessionalstatusinfivetropicaltreespecies