Coping with herbivory at the juvenile stage: responses to defoliation and stem browsing in the African savanna tree Colophospermum mopane

摘要: Responses of plants to herbivory are dependent on the type damage and ontogenetic stage plant. We compared effects stem pruning defoliation seedlings Colophospermum mopane, an ecologically important tree species widely distributed in southern Africa. The growth 160 greenhouse-grown juveniles were measured for 6-mo after germination then treatments including 50% defoliation, 100% controls. Pruning resulted 30% reductions total leaf area, height biomass. Partial area plant However, complete a increase biomass production, doubling lateral branch number, 45% reduction size, no change area. Thus, completely defoliated showed greater performance than those that only partially defoliated, indicating C. mopane has become adapted chronic severe inflicted by Imbrasia belina caterpillars. Comparison our results with other studies indicates less herbivory-tolerant adults more negative defoliation. seedling browsers may constrain recruitment influencing its population dynamics abundance.