U.S.-Brazil Collaborative Research: Seed Predation and Herbivory in Neotropical Savannas: Are There Demographic Consequences for Plants?

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In this U.S.-Brazil collaborative project supported by the Americas Program of the Office of International Science and Engineering, Dr. Emilio M. Bruna,of the University of Florida will pursue a program to examine the effects of herbivores (leaf cutter ants), granivores (rodents), and their interaction on a diverse plant community in an understudied tropical ecosystem, the cerrado of Brazil. Together with U.S. coworkers and Brazilian colleagues from the Federal University of Uberlandia, Dr. Bruna will perform a multifaceted experiment to examine the effect of the removal of different trophic levels on seedling recruitment in this ecosystem, both independently and synergistically. They expect to learn not only the relative importance of granivory and herbivory factors, but also how they interact to influence plant population and community dynamics.The project focuses on a topic of considerable importance to ecological research. Through this research the investigators hope to answer a fundamental question in plant population ecology. This project also provides international research experience for U.S. students and will strengthen a developing collaboration with the Brazilian scientists.