The Herbivory Variability Network
Welcome to the Herbivory Variability Network (“HerbVar”). We are a global research network that aims to describe and understand how and why patterns in plant–herbivore interactions vary across the tree of life and around the world.
Since our founding in 2019, we have grown to more than 200 collaborators from more than 100 institutions across 30+ countries. Please email herbvar (a) gmail.com or Will Wetzel or a member of the Steering Committee if you are interested in joining us. We are always looking for additional collaborators, especially those who can contribute data from under-sampled regions or new species in our focal families. We are in our second phase of data collection; please see our Phase 2 page for more information on our current sampling objectives.
Our growing dataset currently has >800 surveys of >500 plant species from 137 plant families. These are spread across North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
Sampling areas with at least one completed survey. We’re continually adding new sites.
The Herbivory Variability Network is funded for 2022-2026 by the US National Science Foundation as a Research Coordination Network. Seed funding was provided by MSU AgBioResearch, MSU Department of Entomology, MSU CANR International Programs, and the MSU Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program.
