ABSTRACT

Failures of ecosystem rehabilitation projects may reflect the serious underestimation of complex ecological relationships. One such relationship involves the influence of insect pests on plant performance, especially under stressful environmental conditions. This chapter presents a synopsis of evidence that suggest insects affect plant growth and reproduction. It reviews evidence from the literature that suggests consumers, such as insects, have significant effects on the dynamics of plant populations and communities. The chapter also presents case histories that show that insect attack can make a critical difference, determining success or failure in the maintenance of a plant population, especially under stressful environmental conditions. The results show that environmental stress decreases plant resistance to significant herbivore effect. The chapter discusses several implications of such information for improved restoration of disturbed vegetation. It also proposes an R & D approach to revegetation and system restoration.