Between-species differences in leaf defenses of tropical trees

Journal ArticleRates of herbivory and patterns of leaf defense are presented for light-demanding and shade-tolerant tree species growing in a lowland rainforest in Panama. More than 85 percent of the annual leaf damage is due to grazing by insects. There are over three orders of magnitude difference between species in the rates of herbivory on mature leaves. More than 70 percent of this variation can be statistically explained by measured defenses

Rates of herbivory on different tropical trees

Book ChapterRates 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

What's up? Perspectives from the first international forest canopy conference at Sarasota, Florida, 1994

Journal ArticleJumars, caribineers, pole pruners, tree bicycles, Bosun's chairs, booms, peconhas . . . these terms are not listed in most biological dictionaries. Nor are construction cranes or large treehouses or hot-air dirigibles listed as priority equipment for any scientific laboratories. But these are the essential tools required to provide some of the exciting results reported at the recent First International Forest Canopy Conference during November 1994 at The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida

Divergent defensive strategies of young leaves in two species of Inga

Journal ArticleIn the recently radiated genus Inga (Fabaceae), few nucleotide substitutions have accumulated among species, yet large divergences have occurred in defensive phenotypes, suggesting strong selection by herbivores. We compared herbivory and defenses of young leaves for I. goldmanii, a more derived species that follows a "defense" strategy, and I. umbellifera, a more basal species that follows an "escape" strategy

Coibanoles, a new class of meroterpeniods produced by pycnoporus sanguineus

ManuscriptThree new terpenoids of mixed biosynthetic origin were isolated from the culture filtrate of the endophytic fungus Pycnoporus sanguineus. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses. We have named these tricyclic and tetracyclic metabolites ?coibanoles A?C? in reference to Coiba Island and Coiba National Park, Panam?, from which the plant and endophyte were collected. The extract was inactive to the human parasites Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania donovani, and Plasmodium falciparum at a test concentration of 10 ?g/mL

Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae in two tropical monodominant trees

Journal ArticleMycorrhizae, symbioses between plant roots and fungi, are found in virtually all terrestrial plant ecosystems. Substantial evidence indicates that mycorrhizal associations are beneficial to both partners

Colonization of tropical rain forest leaves by epiphylls: effects of site and host plant leaf lifetime

Journal ArticleIn humid tropical regions, leaves are frequently colonized by epiphylls (Richards 1954, Pocs 1978, 1982). Lichens and liverworts usually dominate, although mosses, algae, and cyanobacteria can also occur (Winkler 1971, Smith 1982). The interactions between epiphylls and host leaves have not been well studied. In this paper, we investigate site and host-plant characteristics that might affect rates of colonization by lichens and liverworts in several sites in Panama. In addition we evaluate possible ecological and evolutionary impacts of epiphyll cover on host-plant leaves

Food quality, competition, and parasitism influence feeding preference in a neotropical lepidopteran

Journal ArticleWe surveyed Lepidoptera found on 11 species of Inga (Fabaceae:Mimosoideae) co-existing on Barro Colorado Island, Panama, to evaluate factors influencing diet choice. Of the 47 species of caterpillars (747 individuals) recorded, each fed on a distinct set of Inga. In the field, 96% of the individuals were found on young leaves. Growth rates of caterpillars that were fed leaves in the laboratory were 60% higher on young leaves compared to mature leaves