Demographic Studies of a Dioecious Tree. II. The Distribution of Leaf Predation Within and Between Trees

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Abstract
The extent of damage of the leaves of Salix cinerea was determined in two successive years in a naturally established population in Anglesey, North Wales [UK]. The effects of sexual state (male, female or juvenile), flowering intensity, canopy shade, compass orientation of the trees, specific leaf weight and nearest-neighbour distance were examined. There were significant differences between the intensity of predation in the two years of the study. The major cause of damage to the leaves was predation by insects. Leaves on male trees suffered more damage than those on females or juveniles. Leaves in shaded portions of the canopy suffered more damage than those in unshaded parts, but the compass orientation of the branches had no effect. The intensity of flowering had significant though complex effects on the degree of predation suffered by the leaves.