Nascimento, Aline Alves do creator Luiz, Jefferson Cabral creator Vega, Maria Raquel Garcia creator Villela, Dora Maria creator Nascimento, Marcelo Trindade creator text periodical abstract or summary bl. continuing eng ABSTRACT The present study evaluated the relationship between herbivory and leaf quality of three abundant tree species (Cupania oblongifolia Mart., Siparuna guianensis Aubl. and Xylopia sericea St. Hill.) in the understory of a eucalyptus plantation and an adjacent Atlantic Rainforest fragment. Herbivory differed among species, since X. sericea was less attacked, while C. oblongifolia and S. guianensis were more. The species showed similar herbivory patterns between the investigated areas (eucalyptus plantation versus forest), although X. sericea showed higher herbivory rates in the forest fragment. Fiber values (NDF, CEL and LIG) varied significantly among the species, being lower in S. guianensis. X. sericea, the species with the highest C/N ratio, higher concentrations of total phenols, smaller leaf area and higher trichome density, showed the lowest leaf herbivory rates, corroborating the hypothesis that herbivory is lower in species with lower nutritional quality and a greater set of leaf defense features. Keywords: defenses, insect-plant interactions, leaf nutrients. Publicação on-line; Bibliography p. 9-11 (52 ref.); 1 table; 5 illus.; Summary (En) ECOLOGIA ANÁLISE FOLIAR ANIMAL HERBÍVORO FOLHA Rio de Janeiro-RJ Instituto de Florestas - UFRRJ 1994 2025-0452 1415-0980 / ISSN 2179-8087 0nline BR2026001241 v. 26(4) p. 1-11 (2019) https://www.scielo.br/j/floram/a/fmQpwFxyVpRSCQsRxqb57Bw/?format=pdf&lang=en https://www.scielo.br/j/floram/a/fmQpwFxyVpRSCQsRxqb57Bw/?format=pdf&lang=en BR-BrBNA 260417 20260417121141.0 eng