Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: Long-term Effects of Deer Browsing on Northern Wisconsin Plant Communities.The effects of excessive white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) browsing on forest understory plant communities are well-documented.However, these studies are usually shortterm, and fail to focus on phylogenetic diversity and additional variables that may explain species composition.This study examined ecological and phylogenetic diversity, vegetation structure, and light (% insolation) in short (7 year) and long-term (22 year) exclosures (and paired controls) to identify if competitive exclusion occurs in long-term exclosures.A deer browsing susceptibility index (DBS) was also developed to identify species reliant on exclosures for persistence.Statistical analysis using 2-way ANOVAs showed increased percent cover, vegetation height, and phylogenetic diversity in old exclosures compared to controls, but there were no significant differences in ecological diversity.Ecological and phylogenetic diversity was greatest in old exclosures compared to young, but young exclosures were more ecologically diverse than paired controls.There were no differences in light or biomass for any exclosure age or treatment.Based on these results, competitive exclusion is not occurring in these 22 year exclosures.A comparison of mean pairwise phylogenetic distance to a randomized null model shows phylogenetic clustering in old controls, indicating browsing is a habitat filter selecting for species least susceptible to browsing (i.e.graminoids and club mosses).As expected, browse susceptible species consisted mainly of broadleaf herbs.Highly susceptible species may rely on exclosures for persistence, and although competitive exclusion does not occur, exclosures are not a practical way to promote ecological and phylogenetic diversity in forest understories.
Author: Danielle Rae Begley
Institution: Wright State University
Language: English
Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2530255832