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Herbivory makes major contributions to ecosystem carbon and nutrient cycling in tropical forests
Author(s) -
Metcalfe Daniel B.,
Asner Gregory P.,
Martin Roberta E.,
Silva Espejo Javier E.,
Huasco Walter Huaraca,
Farfán Amézquita Felix F.,
CarranzaJimenez Loreli,
Galiano Cabrera Darcy F.,
Baca Liliana Durand,
Sinca Felipe,
Huaraca Quispe Lidia P.,
Taype Ivonne Alzamora,
Mora Luzmila Eguiluz,
Dávila Angela Rozas,
Solórzano Marlene Mamani,
Puma Vilca Beisit L.,
Laupa Román Judith M.,
Guerra Bustios Patricia C.,
Revilla Norma Salinas,
Tupayachi Raul,
Girardin Cécile A. J.,
Doughty Christopher E.,
Malhi Yadvinder
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/ele.12233
Subject(s) - herbivore , ecosystem , tropical rainforest , nutrient cycle , ecology , rainforest , nutrient , environmental science , cycling , soil carbon , phosphorus , terrestrial ecosystem , tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests , soil fertility , carbon cycle , tropics , biology , soil water , forestry , geography , chemistry , organic chemistry
The functional role of herbivores in tropical rainforests remains poorly understood. We quantified the magnitude of, and underlying controls on, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycled by invertebrate herbivory along a 2800 m elevational gradient in the tropical Andes spanning 12°C mean annual temperature. We find, firstly, that leaf area loss is greater at warmer sites with lower foliar phosphorus, and secondly, that the estimated herbivore‐mediated flux of foliar nitrogen and phosphorus from plants to soil via leaf area loss is similar to, or greater than, other major sources of these nutrients in tropical forests. Finally, we estimate that herbivores consume a significant portion of plant carbon, potentially causing major shifts in the pattern of plant and soil carbon cycling. We conclude that future shifts in herbivore abundance and activity as a result of environmental change could have major impacts on soil fertility and ecosystem carbon sequestration in tropical forests.