Neighbouring tree effects on leaf herbivory: insect specialization matters more than host plant leaf traits

In this study, we measured leaf herbivory by chewing and mining insect herbivores in saplings of nine species of deciduous trees in a warm-temperate montane forest. We censused neighbouring trees and measured five traits known to influence herbivory (i.e., specific leaf area-SLA, thickness, C:N ratio, Na and Si content) on a subset of saplings.