Abstract
We examined the relationships between leaf damage caused by insects and pathogens and three leaf traits (leaf toughness, total phenol contents, and nitrogen contents) of five dipterocarp species in a lowland rain forest in peninsular Malaysia. The measurements were made on all leaves of 9- month-old dipterocarp seedlings that emerged at mast fruiting in September 1996. Means of leaf damage levels were significantly different among the species. Percentages of heavily damaged leaves (damaged leaf area> 50%) varied from 5.0% in Shorea multiflora to 13.8% in S. pauciflora. Mean leaf damage levels were not correlated with the three leaf traits across species, but percentages of heavily damaged leaves showed a significant negative correlation with the total phenol contentsi n in leaves. This result suggests that phenolics may not necessarily reduce the average amounts of leaf damage, but may suppress heavy leaf feeding by herbivores.
