MY SCIENTIFIC specialty is herbivory, the process of foliage consumption. I could thus be described as a professional leaf detective. The major herbivores are insects – such as beetles and caterpillars – and mammals – koalas, sloths and other vegetarians.
The topic of herbivory is complex. Why do insects prefer some leaves to others? Do they like to feed at different heights in the canopy, or on leaves of a certain age? Do they eat by day or by night? In my opportunistic world of canopy research, I sample many leaves, branches, seasons, years, trees and forests in order to address the question…
