Linking Anthropogenic Landscape Perturbation to Herbivory and Pathogen Leaf Damage in Tropical Tree Communities

Anthropogenic disturbances in tropical forests, such as fragmentation and habitat loss, significantly alter multitrophic interactions, including herbivory and pathogen dynamics. A study at Calakmul, Mexico, revealed that generalist herbivores, particularly larger and more mobile species, are highly sensitive to landscape configuration changes, while specialized herbivores with limited dispersal capacity are more influenced by vegetation composition. Additionally, herbivore-induced foliar damage emerged as a critical factor in the incidence of plant pathogens, suggesting that these insects may act as vectors or facilitate pathogen entry. Pathogen symptoms like anthracnose and black spots were more prevalent in fragmented landscapes with smaller patches and higher edge density, indicating potential adverse effects on plant health and productivity. This pioneering research provides key insights into how tropical forest fragmentation can disrupt specialized plant-herbivore interactions and exacerbate the proliferation of generalist herbivores and certain pathogen symptoms.

Pablo-Rodríguez, J. L., Bravo-Monzón, Á. E., Montiel-González, C., Benítez-Malvido, J., Álvarez-Betancourt, S., Ramírez-Sánchez, O., Oyama, K., Arena-Ortiz, M. L., Alvarez-Añorve, M. Y., & Avila-Cabadilla, L. D. (2023). Linking Anthropogenic Landscape Perturbation to Herbivory and Pathogen Leaf Damage in Tropical Tree Communities. Plants, 12(22), 3839. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12223839