Light gap

In ecology, a light gap is a break in the forest canopy or similar barrier that allows young plants to grow where they would be otherwise inhibited by the lack of light reaching the seedbed.

Light gap herbivores are animals that create light gaps by feeding on the older plants. Stick insects play a particularly important role in this. On the other hand, creation of light gaps by introduced yellow crazy ants has been a major factor in the degradation of the environment of Christmas Island.