An Industry Perspective on Semiochemical Technology and Commercial Opportunities in Forestry (original) (raw)
Stand-level defoliation ratio by herbivorous insects (the ratio of consumed leaf mass to available leaf mass as food for herbivorous insects) was investigated by using litter leaves collected in litter traps to evaluate the variation of herbivory according to environmental conditions. Twelve plots have been set up at four elevations, on three geological substrates, and in two topographical units in Mt. Kinabalu, Borneo. The stand-level defoliation ratio 1) decreased with increasing altitude, 2) was lower at ultrabasic than Tertiary sedimentary sites at each altitude, and 3) was lower at ridge than lower slope sites at each geological substrate. These results indicate that the stand-level defoliation ratio increases with increasing forest productivity.