Germination of native and introduced plants from scats of Fallow Deer (Dama dama) and Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) in a south‐eastern Australian woodland landscape

Abstract

Summary Introduced deer occur in many forests and woodlands in Australia and potentially play an important role in influencing the floristics and structure of these landscapes through eating plants and disseminating seeds. In a glasshouse trial, we tested whether field‐collected scats of Fallow Deer (Dama dama) contained viable plant seeds. Scats of deer obtained from a woodland study area in Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales, produced seedlings from a range of native and introduced plant species. Forbs and herbs were dominant in these samples, confirming the grazing behaviour of deer at the time scats were collected. Samples of scats from Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus), collected contemporaneously from the same sites as deer scats, also produced plant germinants. By volume, deer scats produced a greater diversity of plant germinants, including native and weed species, than did kangaroo scats. Although no weed species emanating from deer or kangaroo scats were of national significance, several species were of regional environmental significance, including Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsis), which was only found germinating out of deer scat, Stinkgrass (Eragrostis cilianensis) and Purpletop (Verbena bonariensis). In addition to dispersing viable seeds, Fallow Deer may also influence vegetation structure through their browsing. Further research is necessary to elucidate their respective role in dispersing native and introduced plants as well as any impacts that foraging behaviour might be having on woodland landscapes, to better inform management of the resident deer population.

Biological Flora of the British Isles: Crassula helmsii

“…Fallow deer ( Dama L.) and grey kangaroo ( Macropus giganteus Shaw) also consume C. helmsii to some extent Claridge et al (). Outside its native range, no known herbivory exists beyond generalist grazing by livestock if present.…”

“…In its native range, it has been shown that C. helmsii can be dispersed by fallow deer Dama dama and grey kangaroo Macropus giganteus through examination of scats (Claridge, Hunt, Thrall, & Mills, 2016). Wildfowl and livestock, such as highland cattle and New Forest ponies, are considered suitable vectors for fragmented stem and node sections of C. helmsii in Britain (Denys, Packet, Jambon, & Scheers, 2014;Ewald, 2014;Smith, 2015).…”

“…Fallow deer (Dama L.) and grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus Shaw) also consume C. helmsii to some extent Claridge et al (2016). Ctenopharyngodon idella Valenciennes have been suggested as a potential biological control, but only in garden ponds due to their generalist feeding behaviour.…”

Leidraad voor het beheer van watercrassula - Crassula helmsii - in Vlaanderen

“…Zaden worden zowel verspreid door water, als via de vacht en poten van dieren (Thorsen et al 2009) en wellicht ook na indigestie door allerlei dieren (Denys et al 2014a). Claridge et al (2016) verkregen kiemlingen uit de uitwerpselen van damherten en kangoeroes. Ook via schoeisel en materiaal dat gebruikt wordt bij beheerwerken kunnen zaden verspreid worden; elk transport van grond of planten van besmette plaatsen naar geschikte groeiplaatsen komt hiervoor eveneens in aanmerking (cf.…”

Managing vertebrate pest Sambar Deer at low abundance in mountains

“…2010; Claridge et al . 2016), impacts to agricultural and forestry production and infrastructure (Putman & Moore 1998; Lindeman & Forsyth 2008), carrying diseases that can affect other species or drinking water catchments (Burgin et al . 2015; Davis et al .…”