Above ground food resources and herbivory in a beech forest ecosystem [Denmark]

In a 90 yr old beech stand the apparent beech leaf consumption 1967-1974 ranged from 7 to 20% (average 12.3%). Phyllophages actually removed 3-9% (average 5.7%) of leaf area index (LAI) - an average of about 9 g m-2 yr-1 (d.w.) of beech leaves (about 180 kJ m-2 yr-1), corresponding to 2-5% (average 3%) of annual leaf production and about 4% of available food. Due to wasteful feeding, average consumption of phyllophages on beech was only about 145 kJ m-2 yr-1. Leaves and mast were the above ground components of beech trees mainly attacked by herbivorous insects. Beech net assimilation was only insignificantly reduced by leaf consumption. Insect herbivory on beech represented 0.7-0.8% of beech net primary production; above ground insect herbivory in the beech forest ecosystem was