Variations in the effects of local foliar damage on life span of individual leaves of downy birch (Betula pubescens)

Although the premature abscission of leaves damaged by herbivores has been discovered decades ago, the reduction in leaf life span caused by herbivory remains poorly documented, and the sources of variation in the magnitude of this effect have only rarely been studied. We aimed at exploring the effects of several herbivore species (at their background densities) and simulated herbivory on the leaf life span of downy birch, Betula pubescens Ehrh....