PHYTOPHAGOUS INSECT WOODY SPROUT INTERACTIONS IN TROPICAL EUCALYPT FOREST .1. INSECT HERBIVORY

Foliar insect damage levels on woody sprouts in the ground layer of tw o tropical eucalypt forest communities on Melville Island were between 7.8 and 43.2%. Of eight common tree species, Eucalyptus confertiflora was damaged most by insects and Buchanania obovata and Terminalia fer dinandiana the least. Seasonal trends in insect damage were not consis tent between plant species and were not always consistent between vege tation types for a particular plant species. The results of this study are not consistent with hypotheses suggesting that insect grazing is a critical determinant of tree species dominance or woody sprout dorma ncy.