Insect outbreaks alter nutrient dynamics in a southern African savanna: patchy defoliation of Colophospermum mopane savanna by Imbrasia belina larvae

Biotropica ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 789-796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donovan B. de Swardt ◽  
Corli Wigley-Coetsee ◽  
Timothy G. O'Connor
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Dynamics ◽  
Insect Outbreaks ◽  
African Savanna ◽  
Colophospermum Mopane ◽  
Imbrasia Belina

A lepidopteran (Imbrasia belina) might influence tree-grass balance of Colophospermum mopane savanna

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 503-513
Author(s):  
Kevin J. Duffy ◽  
Timothy G. O’Connor ◽  
Obiora C. Collins
Keyword(s):  
Colophospermum Mopane ◽  
Imbrasia Belina

Intraspecific Host Preferences of Mopane Moths (Imbrasia belina) in Mopane (Colophospermum mopane) Woodland

2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Halszka Hrabar ◽  
Dawood Hattas ◽  
Johan T. du Toit
Keyword(s):  
Host Preferences ◽  
Colophospermum Mopane ◽  
Imbrasia Belina ◽  
Mopane Woodland

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

2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Hartnett ◽  
Jacqueline P. Ott ◽  
Kathryn Sebes ◽  
Marks K. Ditlhogo
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Leaf Size ◽  
Lateral Branch ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Total Leaf Area ◽  
Branch Number ◽  
Colophospermum Mopane ◽  
Total Leaf ◽  
Imbrasia Belina

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

Understanding nutrient dynamics in an African savanna: local biotic interactions outweigh a major regional rainfall gradient

2016 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 913-923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michiel P. Veldhuis ◽  
Anneleen Hulshof ◽  
Wimke Fokkema ◽  
Matty P. Berg ◽  
Han Olff
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Dynamics ◽  
Biotic Interactions ◽  
African Savanna ◽  
Rainfall Gradient ◽  
Regional Rainfall
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