Comment on "Why are there so many species of herbivorous insects in tropical rainforests?"

Science. 2007 Mar 23;315(5819):1666; author reply 1666. doi: 10.1126/science.1137249.

Abstract

Novotny et al. (Reports, 25 August 2006, p. 1115) argued that higher herbivore diversity in tropical forests results from greater phylogenetic diversity of host plants, not from higher host specificity. However, if host specificity is related to host abundance, differences in relative host abundance between tropical and temperate regions may limit any general conclusion that herbivore diversity scales directly with host-plant diversity.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biodiversity*
  • Climate
  • Insecta*
  • Phylogeny
  • Population Density
  • Trees*
  • Tropical Climate*