Growing conditions, such as water and nutrient supply, are the major determinates of tree growth, but insectivorous birds can also play an important role, say scientists in a study published in the January issue of Ecology. Under the right conditions, birds contribute to whole tree growth by preying on herbaceous arthropods, such as leafhoppers, caterpillars and grasshopper.
While it may be conventional wisdom that birds help tree growth by controlling insect infestations, previous research showed this relationship to be much more dynamic and complex than it appears on the surface. For example, conditions, such as the plant and insects' natural defenses against predators, can dampen the effects of top-down predators like birds. Continue reading at http://www.esa.org/esablog/research/can-birds-affect-tree-growth/.
