Padrões de hebivoria em folhas de Combretum sp. (Combretaceae) em área de Caatinga, Cajazeiras - PB.

Abstract

Herbivory is defined as a consumer-resource type relationship, where the vegetative and reproductive parts of plants are consumed by animals or pathogens. The objective of the present study was to analyze the herbivory patterns in leaves of Combretum sp. in area of caatinga present in the campus of the Federal University of Campina Grande, Cajazeiras, Paraíba. A total of 100 leaves were analyzed, being 50 young and 50 mature of 10 individuals. The percentage of damaged leaves, total and removed leaf areas were calculated using the Image Tool 3.0 program. There was a significant difference between the total and removed areas of young and mature leaves (t= -7.9; p< 0.0001; t= 6.4; p< 0.0001), where the leaf area was larger in mature leaves and the area removed larger in young leaves. There was no correlation between total leaf area and removed of mature leaves. For young leaves, there was a positive correlation between total leaf area and area removed (r= 0.55; p< 0.01).