Interspecific comparison of leaf area loss caused by insect herbivores in relation to leaf properties in a cool temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest

Abstract

Leaf area losses caused by folivorous insects were studied for the 13 dominant tree species growing in a wide range of soil habitat conditions (from mesic to xeric) in a natural cool temperate forest in Japan. We investigated the relationship between leaf properties and leaf area loss. The mean leaf area loss of the 13 tree species ranged from 1.9 to 6.8% with a mean of 3.9%. Mesic species had higher leaf nitrogen (N) concentrations than xeric species; however, total phenolics and specific leaf area were not correlated with soil habitat conditions. Of the leaf properties studied, only leaf N concentration was positively correlated with leaf area loss. Our results agree with previous studies, and suggest that species adapted to nuturient-rich environments are more susceptible to folivorous insects than those adapted to nutrient-poor environments.