Rates of herbivory on different tropical trees

Rates of herbivory on marked young and mature leaves from saplings of 21 canopy tree species were measured in the wet and dry seasons. Species were classified into two life history groups: persistent species which are found throughout the shaded understory, and pioneer species which only become established in light gaps created by fallen trees. Mature leaves of slow-growing persistent species were eaten by insects at an average annual rate of 21%, whereas rapidly growing pioneer species were grazed 4 times faster in the dry season and 10 times faster in the wet.