Evaluating the impacts of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) browsing on vegetation in fenced and unfenced timber harvests

Parker, Halie A.; Larkin, Jeffery T.; Heggenstaller, Dan; Duchamp, Joseph E.; Tyree, Michael C.; Rushing, Clark S.; Domoto, Emily Just; Larkin, Jeffery L.

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118326

Cited by 18 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Fences are one of the most effective tools to prevent human‐wildlife conflicts, and are commonly used: (i) to reduce the roadway collisions caused by animals 22 ; (ii) to protect crops and forestry 23,24 ; and (iii) to reduce transmission of shared infections 21 . However, some drawbacks have been identified.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…17,18 In this context, the effectiveness of fences in restricting the movements of wildlife remains unclear, 19,20 although some species challenge fences, jumping and/or climbing over, others crawl under them. 21 Fences are one of the most effective tools to prevent humanwildlife conflicts, and are commonly used: (i) to reduce the roadway collisions caused by animals 22 ; (ii) to protect crops and forestry 23,24 ; and (iii) to reduce transmission of shared infections. 21 However, some drawbacks have been identified.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Permeability of artificial barriers (fences) for wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Mediterranean mixed landscapes

Laguna

Barasona

Carpio

et al. 2022

Pest Management Science

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BACKGROUND: Fences are one of the most widespread manmade features in nature, constituting an artificial limitation to the movement of wildlife. To date, their effects on wildlife behavior have been understudied but this knowledge is required to design effective management procedures. Using 21 GPS-monitored wild boar, we evaluated the permeability of different types of fences and described temporal patterns and spatial hotspots for crossing events. A fence's permeability was inferred by the crossing success, i.e., the number of times that animals crossed a barrier vs the number of times they did not cross. The vulnerability of fences at watercourses was explored by assessing whether the frequency of crossings was higher around watercourse intersections than expected by chance.RESULTS: Well-maintained big game proof fences were the most effective in reducing successful wild boar crossings; they were, on average, 30% more efficient than livestock type fences. Crossing success was higher for males than females and during the food shortage period than in the food abundance period. The frequency of crossings around watercourses was higher than expected by chance, especially in moderately and well-maintained big game proof type fences.CONCLUSION: While no fence type was 100% wild boar proof, well-maintained big game proof fences substantially constrained the movement of boar. However, they are vulnerable around watercourses. Managing the conflicts in which this species is involved, such as shared infections and agricultural damage, would require fences that are even more effective than the ones analyzed here, ideally in conjunction with other preventive actions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Permeability of artificial barriers (fences) for wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Mediterranean mixed landscapes

Laguna

Barasona

Carpio

et al. 2022

Pest Management Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Our results suggest that the well-documented homogenization of vegetation communities dominated by non-preferred grasses, ferns, and sedges during periods of deer overabundance (Wright et al 2019, Parker et al 2020) can, to a degree, be reversed with long-term deer suppression. In support of the lawn maintenance hypothesis, from 1992-2021, we found that the proportional abundance of grasses, ferns, and sedges, as compared to preferred species, declined from 64% to 37%.…”

Section: Not All Plants Are Equal: Browse-sensitive and Preferred Spe...mentioning

confidence: 73%

Less is more: vegetation changes coincide with white‐tailed deer suppression over thirty years

Pickering,

Bradstreet,

Norris

2024

Wildlife Monographs

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Although ecological impacts of overabundant white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are well documented in eastern North America, few studies have evaluated the long‐term effects of adaptive deer population suppression after a period of overabundance. We examined vegetation community changes over a period of 30 years (1992–2021) on the Long Point Peninsula, Ontario, Canada following a >85% reduction of a previously overabundant white‐tailed deer population. We documented a significant increase in species diversity and shifts in the species composition of understory plants and woody vegetation. We then evaluated several hypotheses to explain these patterns. Our results provide support for the all‐you‐can‐browse hypothesis, in which the abundance of woody stems above the browse layer did not increase within the first 3 years of sampling but, consistent within an expected period of recruitment, increased by >1,500% from 1995–2021. We also found support for both the lawn maintenance hypothesis, with a significant decline in the proportional abundance of non‐preferred species relative to preferred species, and for the seed bank hypothesis, with native species accounting for nearly 80% of new species observed over the sampling period. We conclude that the effective, long‐term management and continued suppression of an previously overabundant white‐tailed deer population can lead to increased vegetation community heterogeneity and diversity, which is likely one of the most important steps for the regeneration of woody stems and native vegetation communities.

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“…Potentially influential site‐specific factors include the characteristics of the reference unmanaged stands, some of which may have had more complex vegetation structure due to past natural or anthropogenic disturbance or were otherwise approximating late‐seral, old‐growth forest conditions (Faccio, 2003; Kelty & D'Amato, 2006; Nyland, 1992). Past disturbance, as well as deer browsing, site soil class, or other factors at sites, could have muddled potential differences between reference and treated forest stands in some studies (Briggs & Lemin, 1994; Parker et al, 2020; Rushing et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of forest management on the conservation of bird communities in eastern North America: A meta‐analysis

et al. 2023

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Forest management affects conditions for both early‐ and late‐seral organisms, and managers and conservationists require information for balancing the ostensibly opposing habitat needs of both these guilds. We conducted meta‐analyses that examined silvicultural systems with a range of postharvest retention and their impacts on mature‐forest and shrubland bird species densities in eastern North America during the breeding season. Densities of mature‐forest bird species generally declined as canopy tree retention and basal area decreased, although some mature‐forest species had similar densities among unharvested and partially harvested (e.g., first‐entry shelterwood) stands, and others had their highest densities in shelterwoods. We conducted a previous meta‐analysis study, which showed most shrubland bird species in the region increase with harvest intensity, but some shrubland species had similar densities in clearcuts and shelterwoods. Given the contrasting effects of harvest intensity on the two avian guilds, we used Partners‐in‐Flight conservation values to generate objective community‐wide conservation indices relative to postharvest tree retention. Clearcuts and shelterwoods typically had the highest conservation values, and unharvested and lightly thinned stands (70%–100% tree retention) had the lowest conservation scores. Many declining shrubland bird species of conservation concern are abundant in low‐retention stands, thus elevating the conservation value of these stands. Additionally, high conservation values of harvested stands with 40%–70% tree retention represent the presence of both shrubland and mature‐forest species; the latter are potentially responding to enhanced understory structure needed for avian nesting or foraging. In contrast, contemporary closed‐canopy forests in eastern North America are generally characterized by low structural diversity and are mid‐seral stands due to historical patterns of land use and tree harvesting. Although avian community conservation values were lowest in high‐retention stands and many other threatened, non‐avian taxa depend on open‐canopy, managed forests, managers should note that late‐seral, unharvested stands can provide important habitat for old‐growth‐dependent taxa and any intensive forestry should also take into account other factors. Considering the growing interest in using postharvest retention of canopy trees to meet ecological objectives, our novel synthesis can assist managers in assessing species‐specific and community‐wide avian responses to tree retention levels along the entire gradient of canopy treatments.

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Evaluating the impacts of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) browsing on vegetation in fenced and unfenced timber harvests

Cited by 18 publications

References 49 publications

Permeability of artificial barriers (fences) for wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Mediterranean mixed landscapes

Permeability of artificial barriers (fences) for wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Mediterranean mixed landscapes

Less is more: vegetation changes coincide with white‐tailed deer suppression over thirty years

Effects of forest management on the conservation of bird communities in eastern North America: A meta‐analysis

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