Universiteit Utrecht
Large herbivores influence tropical forest regeneration through browsing, trampling, and selective feeding, yet the behavioural processes determining where and when browsing occurs remain poorly understood. This project aimed to investigate how habitat structure influences large Neotropical herbivore activity, behaviour, and browsing pressure in tropical forests of French Guiana. Specifically, the study compared canopy gaps and closed-canopy forest to assess differences in herbivore visitation frequency, foraging behaviour, and vigilance behaviour across habitats. In addition, the project examined whether variation in browsing pressure is mediated by differences in leaf functional traits associated with plant palatability, such as specific leaf area, nitrogen content, and leaf toughness. Herbivore activity was determined with camera traps, while browsing rates and plant traits were measured through field studies and laboratory analyses. By integrating habitat structure, herbivore behaviour, and plant functional traits, this study aims to improve understanding of spatial variation in browsing pressure and its potential consequences for plant community composition, biodiversity, and tropical forest regeneration.
