Insects that feed on the foliage of trees can influence the quality of forest soils by dropping feces and fragments of leaves onto the forest floor. They can also modify the chemistry of rainwater that passes through the canopy. The effects of herbivore activity on the properties of forest soils are poorly understood. Potentially, insects may change soil fertility and the rates of decomposition of leaves that have fallen to the forest floor. In this project, the investigators will study the effects of insect herbivores on forest soils in a temperate and tropical forest. Sampling and experimental approaches will be used to assess the effects of canopy herbivores on soil nutrients and decomposition. The results of this study will improve understanding of how natural and managed forests maintain their fertility, and the role that insects play in forest and soil health.
