Mitigation of bark stripping on spruce: the need for red deer population control

Candaele, Romain; Lejeune, Philippe; Licoppe, Alain; Malengreaux, Céline; Brostaux, Yves; Мorelle, Кevin; Latte, Nicolas

doi:10.1007/s10342-020-01326-z

Cited by 20 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 44 publications

(97 reference statements)

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“…Although all of these softwood broadleaved species were intensively browsed, Norway spruce and silver birch in the same research stand had almost no browsing damage on their stems (exact data not available). In contrast, many previous authors have observed serious damage on stems of Norway spruce in Central Europe caused by LWH, especially red deer [ 31 , 34 , 35 , 36 ]. These data were likely collected in spruce-dominated stands without significant proportions of attractive broadleaved trees.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…Finally, previous studies have shown that both commercially important and commercially unimportant trees create a suitable environment (e.g., thermal and security cover) and winter/spring forage for LWH [ 15 ]. Thus, addressing the interests of both the forestry and game management sectors requires managing for a sustainable population of LWH that minimizes damage to economically important forest stands [ 35 ] while providing adequate hunting opportunities [ 52 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of Tree Species and Size on Bark Browsing by Large Wild Herbivores

Konôpka

Šebeň

Pajtík

et al. 2022

Plants

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Although an important part of the ecosystem, large wild herbivores (LWH), especially red deer (Cervus elaphus L.), cause significant damage to economically valuable timber in forests of Central Europe. Recent work has demonstrated that less valuable softwood broadleaved trees can act as “biological control” that helps reduce bark browsing on more valuable trees in a mixed stand. To better understand the factors that influence how much bark area and mass are removed by LWH from these broadleaved trees, we took advantage of a novel “natural” experiment that occurred after a breach in a herbivory exclosure surrounding a 10-year old mixed broadleaved/conifer stand in the Western Carpathians in north-western Slovakia. We measured the area of old (up to 2 years previously) and new browsed patches on stems of common aspen (Populus tremula L.), common rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.) and goat willow (Salix caprea L.), and their position along the vertical profile of the stem. The browsed bark area (cm2) was then converted to the bark mass (g) removed and the proportion of browsed bark to total bark (%) using conversion equations. Our models demonstrated that the amount of bark removed was influenced by tree species, stem diameter, age of browsing (old vs. new), and stem section along the vertical profile. LWH removed the most bark area from willow but the most bark mass from aspen because aspen had thicker bark than the other tree species. Bark browsing was greater on trees > 6 cm basal diameter. The distribution of bark browsing along the vertical profile was symmetrical (unimodal) with maximum intensity at 101–125 cm from the ground, which corresponds with the height most optimal for feeding by red deer. However, previous browsing in 2019 and 2020 caused new browsing on willow in 2021 to be focused in stem sections lower (51–75 cm) and higher (126–150 cm) than that optima. By quantifying browsing patterns and the amount of bark that is accessible to LWH for forage on the most attractive softwood broadleaved trees, our work will contribute to developing better methods for protecting commercially important species such as European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) in areas of Central Europe that are greatly affected by increasing population density of LWH, especially red deer.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Tree Species and Size on Bark Browsing by Large Wild Herbivores

Konôpka

Šebeň

Pajtík

et al. 2022

Plants

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“…Nolte 1999;Honda 2019;Honda et al 2020), because there is no single and 100% effective solution with which to protect from wildlife damage (in a broad sense) (Koehler 1990;Gilsdorf et al 2002). There is consequently a need to identify adequate mitigation measures with which to mitigate HWCs (Redick and Jacobs 2020;Candaele et al 2021). Here, we have assessed the effectiveness of a portable device that was developed by VISEVER S.L.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of a combined and portable light-ultrasound device with which to deter red deer

et al. 2022

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Human–wildlife conflicts are a growing problem in Northern Hemisphere where wild ungulates are one of the taxonomic groups most frequently involved. To mitigate these conflicts, it is essential to develop preventive actions able to avoid encounters between wildlife and human (activities). We here employed photo-trapping to evaluate the behaviour of red deer (Cervus elaphus) when confronted with dissuasive portable deterrents that function on the basis of changing patterns of light and ultrasound. This was done by following a before/after experimental design, with two phases: (i) a test phase, with active deterrents, and (ii) a control phase, without deterrents. When deterrents were activated they achieved a 48.96% reduction in the frequency of use by red deer (up to 66.64% when it was assessed on a thinner Sect. 10 m wide from the line of deterrents) and produced a reduction of 67.71% in the frequency of deterrent-line crossings. However, a habituation effect was detected since the use by red deer of the treatment area increased as time since treatment. These results indicate that these portable devices are effective as regards dissuading deer, mainly on short time scales. The deterrents tested here could be suitable for use at focal points for short periods or in combination with other methods to improve their effectiveness in vulnerability points. This device could potentially be used to mitigate conflicts caused by wildlife species and in response to relevant and timely situations, such as vehicle collisions and damage to crops, among others.

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“…In relatively large forest areas (over 1000 ha), typical values of annual bark-stripping rates range between 0 and 12% (Candaele et al, 2021). This rate is correlated to deer abundance but the relationship saturates beyond a certain ungulate density (Ligot et al, 2013;Candaele et al, 2021). The other factors that can affect the frequency of bark-stripping damage are winter harshness, forest composition, distance from roads and urban areas, canopy opening, availability of other food resources such as beechnuts and acorns, and topographic position (Ligot et al, 2013;Candaele et al, 2021;Vospernik, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From the simulation of forest plantation dynamics to the quantification of bark-stripping damage by ungulates

Ligot

Gheysen²,

Perin

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Large ungulate populations are known to cause economic damage to agriculture and forestry. Bark damage is particularly detrimental to the timber production of certain species, including Picea abies (L.) Karst (Norway spruce): after bark is wounded, rot often spreads in the trunk base, damaging the most valuable log section. Numerous studies have provided valuable information on various aspects of this process, for example identifying factors governing tree sensitivity to bark-stripping or estimating the rate of decay spread in the trunk. The financial consequences over a full timber production cycle have nevertheless remained poorly quantified and uncertain. Coupling a forest dynamics model (GYMNOS) with models of damage occurrence and decay spread, we simulated the effect of ranging levels of bark-stripping damage on financial losses. The simulations were repeated for sites of ranging fertility and with different protection measures (fences or individual protections). The net present values of these different simulations were estimated and compared to estimate the cost of the damage and the cost-effectiveness of the damage protections. Protecting plantations against bark-stripping damage with fences was found unlikely to be worthwhile. By contrast, individual protections placed on crop trees could be helpful, particularly in the most fertile stands. Loss of revenue depended greatly on the factors tested: we estimated that the average damage cost could be about 53 €/ha/year, reducing timber yield by 19% in the study area, in Southern Belgium.

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Mitigation of bark stripping on spruce: the need for red deer population control

Cited by 20 publications

References 44 publications

Influence of Tree Species and Size on Bark Browsing by Large Wild Herbivores

Influence of Tree Species and Size on Bark Browsing by Large Wild Herbivores

Evaluation of a combined and portable light-ultrasound device with which to deter red deer

From the simulation of forest plantation dynamics to the quantification of bark-stripping damage by ungulates

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