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Effects of herbivory by Hyblaea puera (Hyblaeidae: Lepidoptera) on litter production in the mangrove on the coast of Brazilian Amazonia

2009; Cambridge University Press; Volume: 25; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1017/s0266467409005884

1469-7831

Marcus Emanuel Barroncas Fernandes, Antonia Aparecida Monteiro do Nascimento, Muzenilha Lira Carvalho,

Biological Control of Invasive Species

Mangrove trees are not immune to herbivory. They are affected mainly by folivores, which may influence litter production and nutrient cycling within the system (Choudhury 1988). The amount of leaf material lost to herbivory is also related to the characteristics of the trees and local environmental conditions (Feller 1995), which result in widely varying rates of leaf consumption (Anderson & Lee 1995). According to Cannicci et al . (2008), the true ecological role played by insect herbivores is not simply the amount of plant material lost to herbivory, but also involves effects at the scale of whole plant performance and ecosystem functioning. Thus, the activities of insect herbivores may also be viewed as a positive impact on mangroves, influencing, for example, energy transfer in the system.