Our estimates of caterpillar densities and herbivore damage probably a re underestimates.
Natural selection may act locally and lead to different patterns of geographic variation in life history traits of polyphagous herbivores.
Dead seedlings that remained intact were examined for signs of herbivore damage.
The samples were collected in the habitats used most heavily by the herbivores within a roughly 200 km2 area.
After 60 d, all marked leaves were harvested for determination of their total leaf area and area damaged by herbivores.
Apparently healthy seeds collected from herbivore droppings were also cultivated, with sample sizes determined by seed availability.
A land-use system with dense settlements and permanent agriculture is obviously negative for large wild herbivores.
In addition to wild herbivores, the ranch also houses domestic stock, of which there are approximately 3000 cattle and 500 sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.
