气候变化领域集成服务门户(CCPortal): Evaluating the impacts of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) browsing on vegetation in fenced and unfenced timber harvests

CCPortal

DOI	10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118326
	Evaluating the impacts of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) browsing on vegetation in fenced and unfenced timber harvests
	Parker H.A.; Larkin J.T.; Heggenstaller D.; Duchamp J.; Tyree M.C.; Rushing C.S.; Just Domoto E.; Larkin J.L.
发表日期	2020
ISSN	0378-1127
卷号	473
英文摘要	Ensuring the recruitment of desired tree species is a primary goal when considering successful regeneration of timber harvests. Deer populations that are overabundant relative to forage availability within their local landscapes pose a considerable challenge to successful forest regeneration. We evaluated the short-term (<10 years) impact of white-tailed deer browsing on woody structure and composition in northcentral Pennsylvania. Specifically, we compared woody plant species density, height, and cover within 10 pairs of fenced and unfenced regenerating timber harvests. Percent of browsed stems was higher in unfenced harvests for red maple (Acer rubrum), oaks (Quercus spp.), Rubus spp., sassafras (Sassafras albidum), and witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana). Stem density did not differ between fenced and unfenced harvests for any species except Rubus spp., which was greater in the former. However, height of serviceberry (Amalanchier spp.), sassafras, northern red oak (Quercus rubra), Rubus spp., and red maple was taller in fenced harvests. Both vertical and horizontal vegetation density were greater in fenced harvests, suggesting a more structurally complex understory in fenced harvests. Rubus spp. and tall (>1.5 m) sapling cover were greater in fenced harvests, while unfenced harvests had greater forb, fern, and blueberry/huckleberry (Vaccinium spp./Gaylussacia spp.) cover. Our results suggest that browsing by deer in the years initially (<10 years) following timber harvest may not immediately impact woody species density, but can considerably reduce seedling height, overall horizontal and vertical structure, and composition of vegetation strata. Reduced sapling height and greater prevalence of blueberry/huckleberry, forbs, and ferns in unfenced harvests threaten the successful recruitment of desired species into the future overstory. Our results from large, operational-scale timber harvests combined with those from previous small-scale studies stress the potential value of deer exclusion fencing to achieve successful forest regeneration. Future research should examine the timing of fence removal to achieve forest regeneration success, while also providing deer access to available foraging opportunities during the later portion of stand initiation. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.
英文关键词	Browsing; Forest regeneration; Herbivory; Ungulates; White-tailed deer
语种	英语
scopus关键词	Reforestation; Timber; Vegetation; Forest regeneration; Northern red oaks; Operational scale; Potential values; Vegetation density; Vertical structures; White-tailed deer; Woody plant species; Harvesting; deer; fern; forage; overstory; regeneration; sapling; seedling; timber; timber harvesting; woody plant; Coverings; Density; Harvesting; Height; Plants; Recruitment; Reforestation; Pennsylvania; United States; Acer rubrum; Amelanchier; Cervidae; Filicophyta; Gaylussacia; Hamamelis; Hamamelis virginiana; Odocoileus virginianus; Quercus; Quercus rubra; Rubus; Sassafras; Sassafras albidum; Ungulata; Vaccinium
来源期刊	Forest Ecology and Management
文献类型	期刊论文
条目标识符	http://gcip.llas.ac.cn/handle/2XKMVOVA/155124
作者单位	Department of Biology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 1011 South Drive, Indiana, PA 15701, United States; Pennsylvania Game Commission, Harrisburg, PA 17110, United States; Department of Wildland Resources and the Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, United States; Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Harrisburg, PA 17110, United States; American Bird Conservancy, The PlainsVA 20198, United States
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Parker H.A.,Larkin J.T.,Heggenstaller D.,et al. Evaluating the impacts of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) browsing on vegetation in fenced and unfenced timber harvests[J],2020,473.
APA	Parker H.A..,Larkin J.T..,Heggenstaller D..,Duchamp J..,Tyree M.C..,...&Larkin J.L..(2020).Evaluating the impacts of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) browsing on vegetation in fenced and unfenced timber harvests.Forest Ecology and Management,473.
MLA	Parker H.A.,et al."Evaluating the impacts of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) browsing on vegetation in fenced and unfenced timber harvests".Forest Ecology and Management 473(2020).