Can we reconstruct deer browsing history and how? 
Lessons from <i>Gaultheria shallon</i> Pursh

Vila, Bruno; Guibal, Frédéric; Torre, F. Jason; Martin, Jean‐Louis

doi:10.1051/forest:2005007

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Different studies have outlined the importance of environmental conditions to finally determine herbivory intensity [25,46]. Although we did not find effects of fertilization treatments besides leaf N, it is likely that perturbations that modify nutrient availability, such as forest fires, can potentially modify leaf chemistry and affect herbivore performance.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 46%

Effects of resource availability on condensed tannins and nitrogen in two Quercus species differing in leaf life span

2007

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-Seedlings of Quercus ilex and Q. cerrioides, an evergreen and a winter-deciduous oak co-occurring in western-Mediterranean forests, were grown at two light regimes (8 and 36% of photosynthetically active radiation), at two water regimes (500 and 800 mm) and with two nutrient availabilities (standard substrate and 7% increase in soil N). The concentrations of soluble condensed tannins (CT) and nitrogen in the leaves were analyzed to test the phenotypic plasticity of these commonly related parameters in two con-generic species with contrasting leaf habit. Q. ilex contains seven times more CT and a few less N than Q. cerrioides. Light increased CT, whereas neither fertilization nor water had an effect on CT. N concentration was decreased by light, increased by fertilization and not affected by water treatment. Plant growth was increased by light but not affected by fertilization or water treatment. CT were negatively correlated with N concentration. CT of the evergreen species exhibited greater plasticity than the deciduous one as reflected by a steeper negative correlation among nitrogen and CT concentrations in Q. ilex. Given the antiherbivory activity of CT, this implies that in less shaded environments, e.g. canopy aperture by disturbances, leaf tissue quality for herbivores will be much more reduced in Q. ilex than in Q. cerrioides. Higher leaf CT in Q. ilex and its higher plasticity to light availability may explain the higher browsing by sheep in Q. cerrioides than in Q. ilex resprouts, as well as the low recruitment rates of seedlings of the former species, reported in other studies.condensed tannins / deciduous / evergreen / Quercus ilex / Quercus cerrioides / herbivory Résumé -Effets de la disponibilité de la ressource sur les tanins condensés et l'azote chez deux espèces de Quercus différentes pour la durée de vie de leurs feuilles. Des semis de Quercus ilex et Quercus cerrioides, une espèce sempervirente et une espèce décidue co-existantes dans les forêts méditerranéennes occidentales, ont été élevés sous deux régimes lumineux (8 et 36 % de PAR), deux régimes d'alimentation hydrique (500 et 800 mm) et avec deux niveaux d'alimentation nutritionnelle (substrat standard et substrat avec une augmentation d'azote de 7 %). Les concentrations des tanins solubles condensés (CT) et d'azote des feuilles ont été analysées pour tester la plasticité phénotypique de ces paramètres couramment rapportés chez deux espèces de même genre ayant des types différents de feuilles. Quercus ilex contient 7 fois plus de CT et un peu moins d'azote que Quercus cerrioides. La lumière accroît CT alors que ni la fertilisation ni l'eau ont eu un effet sur CT. La concentration en azote a diminué avec l'augmentation de la lumière, elle a été augmentée par la fertilisation et n'a pas été affectée par le niveau d'alimentation hydrique. La croissance des semis a été augmentée par l'augmentation du PAR mais n'a pas été affectée par la fertilisation ou le niveau d'alimentation en eau. CT a été corrélée avec la concentration en azot...

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 46%

Effects of resource availability on condensed tannins and nitrogen in two Quercus species differing in leaf life span

2007

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“…They have no large predators and no major climatic constraints (Pojar 1999) to interfere with the relationship between deer and their habitat. The analysis of age structures in shrub-stems and the dating of the oldest fraying scars through tree ring measurement (Vila et al 2004a(Vila et al , b, 2005 revealed that, among our study islands, some had been occupied by deer for [50 years, while others had been occupied for \20 years. Independent observations confirmed that on the islands identified by Vila et al as colonized within the past 20 years, deer were present in 1989 (*10 years prior to this study, personal observation) but not recorded in 1983 by Rodway et al (1988).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, a few small islands show no sign of ever having been visited by deer. In addition, Vila et al (2004aVila et al ( , b, 2005, based on growth rings and rubbing scars on woody vegetation, identified islands where deer had been present for different lengths of time. Despite a few endemic species (Taylor 1989) and some degree of species impoverishment, the flora of Haida Gwaii is a comparable subset of that found on the adjacent mainland (Alaback 1990) where it is exposed to browsing by black tailed deer.…”

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confidence: 99%

Top-down and bottom-up consequences of unchecked ungulate browsing on plant and animal diversity in temperate forests: lessons from a deer introduction

et al. 2009

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Debate on the relative importance of competition for resources and trophic interactions in shaping the biological diversity of living communities remains unsettled after almost a century. Recently, dramatic increases in ungulate populations have provided a useful quasi-experiment on the effects of unrestrained ungulates on forest ecology. The islands of Haida Gwaii (Canada) offer a unique situation to investigate the potential of large herbivores to control temperate forest community structure and diversity. Black-tailed deer Odocoileus hemionus Merriam, native to adjacent mainland areas of British Columbia, were introduced in 1878 and spread to all but a few islands. Because deer were not native to the archipelago, islands that still lack deer provide a rare instance of temperate forest vegetation and fauna that developed in the absence of large herbivores. The colonisation of different islands at different times, and the absence of significant predation allow us to assess whether and how a large herbivore can exert ''topdown'' control on vegetation and its associated fauna. We studied plant communities in forest interior and shoreline, on seven small islands of varying browse history. Three islands were untouched by deer, deer had been resident for about 15 years on two, and on another two deer had been present for more than 50 years. Without deer, vegetation in the understorey and/or shrub layer was dense or very dense. Structure and composition varied markedly within and between shoreline and interior communities. Without deer, shoreline communities were dominated by species absent from islands with deer. Where deer had been present for less than 20 years most plant species characteristic of shorelines on islands without deer were already absent or scarce, but in the forest interior species richness was less affected and extensive shrub thickets remained. On islands where deer had been present for[50 years vegetation below the browse line was extremely simplified, converging in both forest interior and shoreline towards an open assemblage of a few deer-tolerant species, basically two coniferous trees. This top down effect on the plant community reflected up the food chain so that understorey invertebrate and shrub-dependent songbird communities became simplified. In contrast, species litter arthropods (especially weevils and millipedes) were highest where deer were present for [50 years. Canopy birds were unaffected by deer presence. In the absence of predators, major climatic stress or other means to control the herbivore, deer browsing created greatly simplified plant and animal communities.

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“…The traces left in the annual rings by herbivores differ across species. For species feeding on tree leaves, for example, a radial growth decrease generally follows defoliation, as observed for moose (Alces alces L.) (McLaren and Peterson 1994), Sitka deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis Merriam) (Vila et al 2005) and phytophagous insects (Jardon et al 1994;Simard and Payette 2001;Filion et al 2010). Feeding scar dating was used to reconstruct field vole (Microtus agrestis L.) (Danell et al 1981), brown lemming (Lemmus sibiricus Kerr) (Erlinge et al 1999) and northern collared lemming (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus Traill) (Predavec et al 2001) activities.…”

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confidence: 92%

Pines and porcupines: a tree-ring analysis of browsing and dynamics of an overmature pine forest

et al. 2017

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Past feeding activities of the North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum L.) in an overmature forest were reconstructed using tree-ring dated feeding scars on jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) trees in Parc national du Bic (Quebec). Following a long fire-free period, most pines that regenerated after the 1847 fire are currently senescent, moribund, or dead, and the youngest trees are nearly 100 years old. Balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.), the most abundant species in the regeneration layer, is predicted to replace jack pine given the absence of recent fire and present fire protection practices in the park. According to the age structure of feeding scars, porcupine activity has been particularly high during the 1980s, which is coincident with the creation of the park. Porcupine activity was lower before this decade and in the late 20th century and absent in this century (2000–2015). The recent decrease in the number of feeding scars is consistent with the decline of the porcupine population, as shown by censuses of active dens and inventories of individuals. Observed tree death is linked with tree senescence rather than excessive feeding. In the absence of fire, it is probable that the shift from the overmature pine stand to a balsam fir stand will profoundly affect porcupine activity. This research shows how the study of tree rings can unravel some of the ecological relationships structuring a forest ecosystem through fire, succession, and animal browsing.

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Can we reconstruct deer browsing history and how? Lessons from Gaultheria shallon Pursh

Cited by 5 publications

References 34 publications

Effects of resource availability on condensed tannins and nitrogen in two Quercus species differing in leaf life span

Effects of resource availability on condensed tannins and nitrogen in two Quercus species differing in leaf life span

Top-down and bottom-up consequences of unchecked ungulate browsing on plant and animal diversity in temperate forests: lessons from a deer introduction

Pines and porcupines: a tree-ring analysis of browsing and dynamics of an overmature pine forest

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