This dataset accompagnies the paper by Schuldt et al. 2015: Early positive effects of tree species richness on herbivory in a large-scale forest biodiversity experiment influence tree growth. Journal of Ecology

The herbivory assessments were conducted at the end of the main growing season in September and October 2011 (Site A) and 2012 (Site B). In each plot, the central 6 x 6 (= 36) tree individuals were monitored for herbivore damage. On each tree, seven leaves on three randomly selected branches from different parts of the canopy (= 21 leaves per tree) were visually inspected. Herbivory was quantified as the overall leaf damage caused by chewing, mining, galling and (if visible) sucking insects per leaf. We used predefined percentage classes (estimated as 0%, <5%, <25%, <50%, <75%, >75%), and the mean values per class averaged over the 21 leaves per tree individual are reported here. As additional data, the height of each tree at the time of the herbivory measurements was recorded. Tree height and ground diameter as growth parameters were measured in separate campaigns in October 2010 and 2011 (Site A) and in October 2011 and 2012 (Site B), i.e. both one year before and in the same year as the herbivory census. Tree height on all planting positions included in the herbivory assessment (i.e. at 36 positions per plot) was measured as the total length of a tree from the stem base to the apical meristem (in cm), ground diameter as the stem diameter 5 cm above the ground (to the nearest millimeter).

Main Experiment

Fall 2010 - Fall 2012