Multiple Browsers Structure Tree Recruitment in Logged Temperate Forests.

Historical extirpations have resulted in depauperate large herbivore assemblages in many northern forests. In eastern North America, most forests are inhabited by a single wild ungulate species, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and relationships between deer densities and impacts on fores...

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Main Authors: Edward K Faison, Stephen DeStefano, David R Foster, Joshua M Rapp, Justin A Compton
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2016-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5125606?pdf=render
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spelling doaj-3b47540f094840d88429cbd168beacfe2020-11-25T01:01:51ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032016-01-011111e016678310.1371/journal.pone.0166783Multiple Browsers Structure Tree Recruitment in Logged Temperate Forests.Edward K FaisonStephen DeStefanoDavid R FosterJoshua M RappJustin A ComptonHistorical extirpations have resulted in depauperate large herbivore assemblages in many northern forests. In eastern North America, most forests are inhabited by a single wild ungulate species, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and relationships between deer densities and impacts on forest regeneration are correspondingly well documented. Recent recolonizations by moose (Alces americanus) in northeastern regions complicate established deer density thresholds and predictions of browsing impacts on forest dynamics because size and foraging differences between the two animals suggest a lack of functional redundancy. We asked to what extent low densities of deer + moose would structure forest communities differently from that of low densities of deer in recently logged patch cuts of Massachusetts, USA. In each site, a randomized block with three treatment levels of large herbivores-no-ungulates (full exclosure), deer (partial exclosure), and deer + moose (control) was established. After 6-7 years, deer + moose reduced stem densities and basal area by 2-3-fold, Prunus pensylvanica and Quercus spp. recruitment by 3-6 fold, and species richness by 1.7 species (19%). In contrast, in the partial exclosures, deer had non-significant effects on stem density, basal area, and species composition, but significantly reduced species richness by 2.5 species on average (28%). Deer browsing in the partial exclosure was more selective than deer + moose browsing together, perhaps contributing to the decline in species richness in the former treatment and the lack of additional decline in the latter. Moose used the control plots at roughly the same frequency as deer (as determined by remote camera traps), suggesting that the much larger moose was the dominant browser species in terms of animal biomass in these cuts. A lack of functional redundancy with respect to foraging behavior between sympatric large herbivores may explain combined browsing effects that were both large and complex.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5125606?pdf=render
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Edward K Faison
Stephen DeStefano
David R Foster
Joshua M Rapp
Justin A Compton
spellingShingle Edward K Faison
Stephen DeStefano
David R Foster
Joshua M Rapp
Justin A Compton
Multiple Browsers Structure Tree Recruitment in Logged Temperate Forests.
PLoS ONE
author_facet Edward K Faison
Stephen DeStefano
David R Foster
Joshua M Rapp
Justin A Compton
author_sort Edward K Faison
title Multiple Browsers Structure Tree Recruitment in Logged Temperate Forests.
title_short Multiple Browsers Structure Tree Recruitment in Logged Temperate Forests.
title_full Multiple Browsers Structure Tree Recruitment in Logged Temperate Forests.
title_fullStr Multiple Browsers Structure Tree Recruitment in Logged Temperate Forests.
title_full_unstemmed Multiple Browsers Structure Tree Recruitment in Logged Temperate Forests.
title_sort multiple browsers structure tree recruitment in logged temperate forests.
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
series PLoS ONE
issn 1932-6203
publishDate 2016-01-01
description Historical extirpations have resulted in depauperate large herbivore assemblages in many northern forests. In eastern North America, most forests are inhabited by a single wild ungulate species, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and relationships between deer densities and impacts on forest regeneration are correspondingly well documented. Recent recolonizations by moose (Alces americanus) in northeastern regions complicate established deer density thresholds and predictions of browsing impacts on forest dynamics because size and foraging differences between the two animals suggest a lack of functional redundancy. We asked to what extent low densities of deer + moose would structure forest communities differently from that of low densities of deer in recently logged patch cuts of Massachusetts, USA. In each site, a randomized block with three treatment levels of large herbivores-no-ungulates (full exclosure), deer (partial exclosure), and deer + moose (control) was established. After 6-7 years, deer + moose reduced stem densities and basal area by 2-3-fold, Prunus pensylvanica and Quercus spp. recruitment by 3-6 fold, and species richness by 1.7 species (19%). In contrast, in the partial exclosures, deer had non-significant effects on stem density, basal area, and species composition, but significantly reduced species richness by 2.5 species on average (28%). Deer browsing in the partial exclosure was more selective than deer + moose browsing together, perhaps contributing to the decline in species richness in the former treatment and the lack of additional decline in the latter. Moose used the control plots at roughly the same frequency as deer (as determined by remote camera traps), suggesting that the much larger moose was the dominant browser species in terms of animal biomass in these cuts. A lack of functional redundancy with respect to foraging behavior between sympatric large herbivores may explain combined browsing effects that were both large and complex.
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5125606?pdf=render
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