Monocot leaves are eaten less than dicot leaves in tropical lowland rain forests: correlations with toughness and leaf presentation.

摘要: † Background and Aims In tropical lowland rain forest (TLRF) the leaves of most monocots differ from those dicots in two ways that may reduce attack by herbivores. Firstly, they are tougher. Secondly, immature tightly folded or rolled until 50 –100 % their final length. It was hypothesized (a) losses leaf area to herbivorous invertebrates generally greatest during expansion smaller for than dicots, (b) where after appreciable any difference between then is found expansion. Methods At six sites on four continents, estimates were made lamina loss recently mature focal nearest dicot shoot. Measurements mass per unit area, concentrations water nitrogen many species. Panama, ( palms) also measured placing fully expanded palm leaflets whole trails leaf-cutter ants. Key Results five experienced significantly dicots. The results not explicable terms nitrogen. only one site increase first fourth significant (also large same dicots), but sustained much monocots. ant experiment, palms Conclusions relationship toughness herbivory complex; despite negative findings some recent authors we hypothesize either greater late folding can protect monocot against insects forest, relative importance varies widely with difficulties establishing unequivocally roles rolling a given case discussed.