Folivory variation in two mangrovesof Paranaguá Bay (Paraná – Brasil)

Abstract

Recent studiesemphasize herbivory’s importance in mangrove’s carbon flux. Chemio- physical characteristics of the environment caninfluence leaf consumption, leading to differences in herbivory levels. This work evaluates possible differences in thedegree of leaf consumption in two similarly structured mangrove forests submitted to different levels of pollution. In eachforest, a 150 m transect was established perpendicularly to the waterline, and each one was divided in three 50 mstrata. Thirty leaves from each of the local species (Rhizophora mangle, Avicennia schaueriana e Lagunculariaracemosa) of mangrove were randomly collected, in a standardized way, in each strata. The samples were processedand herbivory levels were calculated through specific softwares. No differences were found between the forests norbetween the stratum. The lack of differences between the stratum could be a consequence of the homogeneousdistribution of the herbivorous in the forests. Furthermore, the fact that the forests present similar physiographicstructures – in terms of tree’s height, composition and distribution - can be ruling folivory levels, being more importantthan differences in soil and leaf composition.