Foliage feeders in temperate and boreal forests

Type :

Presentation

Pages :

7 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

11/21/2008

Category :

Science & technology

Sub category :

Biology

Oboulo.com selection criteria

$ 14.95 Add to cart

Summary :

Introduction.
Diversity.
Feeding ecology.
Population dynamics.
1. Life-history traits.
2. Population regulation.
3. Population cycles.
Impacts of foliage-feeding insects on trees.
Conclusion.

Abstract

Insect consumers of tree foliage comprise one of the most abundant and diverse feeding guilds in forest ecosystems. Known as folivores, this guild is integral to the structure and functioning of forests. Folivores inﬂuence vital ecosystem processes in forests, including nutrient turnover, competition among plants, and stand structure. In addition, these insects are critical sources of food for many invertebrate and vertebrate predators. In this article, we will address foliage-feeding insects that affect trees in temperate and boreal forests. In these ecosystems, an estimated 10-30%of the total leaf area is annually removed by leaf- chewing forest insects. In some forest types, defoliating insects strongly inﬂuence productivity and the long-term dynamics of the ecosystem. foliage-feeding insect species have little effect on tree health in most years. During outbreaks of some insect defoliators, however, the entire canopy can be consumed, some- times for several years in succession. While outbreaks may cause signiﬁcant economic harm by accelerating tree mortality, reducing productivity and increasing ﬁre risk, they may also play an important long-term role in maintaining healthy forests.