The Role of Natural Enemies in the Germination and Establishment of Pachira (Malvaceae) Trees in the Peruvian Amazon

Seeds from Pachira brevipes from white-sand forest and Pachira insignis from clay forest were placed in a reciprocal transplant experiment that manipulated herbivore presence. Pachira insignis experienced 80 percent leaf loss in both habitats from herbivores, causing 79 percent mortality in white-sand compared with 47 percent in clay in just 3 mo. Pachira brevipes suffered pathogen attack in both habitats that killed 90 percent of its establishing seedlings. Natural enemies thus strongly influence seedling recruitment of these two Pachira species in these forests and appear to have the largest impact within the seedlings’ first few months. Abstract in Spanish is available at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/btp.in Spanish is available at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/btp.