Efeito da biodiversidade de plantas na sobrevivência e herbivoria foliar de Mimosa tenuiflora em um experimento de restauração de Caatinga

Abstract

Herbivore-plant interactions have an important role in ecosystem dynamics. Herbivores are responsible for the consumption of 15% of all net primary productivity on terrestrial ecosystems, and responsible for 38% of all seedling mortality in natural communities. The positive relationship between plant biodiversity and functioning of ecosystems has been widely recognized in the scientific literature, as well as the importance of plant diversity to define patterns of herbivory. This work evaluates if herbivory and survival of young plants of Mimosa tenuiflora (Fabaceae)would be influenced by the plant richness of its surroundings. This work was conducted at the “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function Restoration Experiment of Caatinga”, established at National Forest of Açu, RN Brazil. The experiment contemplates 16 native tree species planted in a gradient of species combinations that vary from: 1 (monoculture) to 2, 4, 8 and 16 species. Survival and number of leaves attacked by herbivores in M. tenuiflora were not influenced by plant species richness one year after restoration. High levels of survival and high resilience to herbivory in M. tenuiflora reveals its great potential for being used in Restoration Programs of Caatinga.