Abstract

Understanding the drivers of seedling herbivory is critical for predicting plant community dynamics in forest ecosystems. For every individual seedling captured in this census, we analyzed how seedling height, biotic neighborhood, plant functional traits, topography, and the density of herbivore events influenced focal seedling herbivory. Our results demonstrate that both biotic and abiotic factors significantly influence seedling herbivory. Seedling height and the presence of conspecifics positively correlate with herbivory, supporting both the plant apparency and Janzen-Connell hypotheses. Conversely, higher heterospecific density and diversity contribute to reduced herbivory, aligning with the herd protection and associational resistance hypotheses. Notably, interactions with ants -- an example of an interspecific mutualist -- directly and indirectly alter these dynamics. The study highlights the complex interplay of community structure, physical and chemical traits of plants, and interspecific interactions in determining herbivory patterns. These findings enhance our understanding of forest dynamics and can inform conservation strategies in subtropical forests.