Ontogenetic and Temporal Variations in Herbivory and Defense of Handroanthus spongiosus (Bignoniaceae) in a Brazilian Tropical Dry Forest

摘要: We compared the richness and abundance of free-feeding herbivore insects (sap-sucking leaf-chewing), leaf herbivory damage, toughness total phenolic content between two ontogenetic stages (juvenile reproductive) Handroanthus spongiosus (Rizzini) S. O. Grose (Bignoniaceae) throughout rainy season in a Brazilian seasonally dry tropical forest. Twenty marked individuals H. were sampled per stage each period (beginning, middle, end). Herbivore did not differ stages, but higher percentage concentration compounds, lower observed for juvenile individuals. The greatest morphospecies was found at beginning season, folivory increment end, despite fact that increased same period. No significant relationships damage both observed. These results suggest insect do track changes foliage quality plant ontogeny, their decrease along confirms what predicted forests. general trends described current study corroborate those literature about herbivores ontogeny. However, lack relationship attributes considered here indicates analyses multiple defensive traits (the defense syndrome) must be more enlightening to determine mechanisms driving temporal spatial patterns attack.