Leaf defences, leaf nutritional quality and leaf expansion rates may vary with resource availabilities to
plants. Such variation could affect rates of leaf loss to herbivores, particularly along the steep resource gradients in
disturbed forests. Intraspecific and interspecific variation in leaf damage and leaf expansion rates were measured on
dipterocarp seedlings planted into secondary forests 1, 5 and 15 y after logging, and in adjacent primary forest of
Sabah, Malaysia. Herbivory rates or amounts of leaf damage were compared across habitats and species for expanding,
recently expanded, and mature leaves of Shorea leprosula and Dryobalanops lanceolata (Dipterocarpaceae). In all four
habitats, leaves of the faster growing S. leprosula sustained higher rates and amounts of leaf-area loss than did the
tougher leaves of slower growing D. lanceolata. Expanding leaves accumulated more leaf-area loss per week than did
mature leaves. In all habitats and in both species, more than 25% of expanding leaves disappeared entirely. Rates of
leaf-area loss per week differed among habitats for expanding leaves but not for mature leaves. In a relatively open,
1-y-old logged forest, faster leaf expansion reduced the time leaves spent in the most vulnerable stage; however, in S.
leprosula a greater rate of leaf area loss countered the shorter expansion time. Thus, leaves accumulated similar total
damages across habitats, and herbivory did not produce differences among habitats in seedling growth or mortality.
High levels of resources may increase both leaf palatability and leaf expansion rates, with counteracting effects on
herbivory.