Heveakore Maraia

Abstract Theory suggests that predation pressure decreases with latitude. To test this hypothesis, we studied predation for insect on forest understory and canopy vegetation using six canopy cranes across a latitudinal gradient (51°N to 34°S). We find contrasting predation patterns: predation is highest in the canopy at high latitudes, whereas it decreases towards low latitudes, where it is more pronounced in the understory.

1 Introduction In terrestrial ecosystems, insect herbivores play a significant role in shaping plant communities by consuming ~18% of plant biomass annually (Cyr and Pace 1993). Herbivorous insects cause varying levels of leaf loss across biomes: ~7.1%, ~10% (Coley and Barone 1996) and 50%, respectively, in temperate forest, tropical forest and Neotropical savannas (Lopes and Vasconcelos 2011). However, insect herbivory remains understudied in many regions and ecosystems worldwide (Liu et al.

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