Species indicators of ecosystem recovery after reducing large herbivore density: Comparing taxa and testing species combinations

Bachand, Marianne; Pellerin, Stéphanie; Côté, Steeve D.; Moretti, Marco; Cáceres, Miquel De; Brousseau, Pierre-Marc; Cloutier, Conrad; Hébert, Christian; Cardinal, Étienne; Martin, Jean-Louis; Poulin, Monique

doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2013.10.018

Cited by 35 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…The concomitant use of several species makes sense, however, since each indicator species is not always present and because the averaging of measurements on several species is likely to increase the reliability of the indicator. Recently, experimental work based on controlled browsing enclosures has identified species combinations that could be used as indicators of browsing pressure and has suggested using them to monitor ecosystem recovery after reducing herbivore densities (Bachand et al 2014). Here, we raise the issue of identifying assemblages of species that vary along a gradient of browsing pressure, not only spatially as in the previous studies to date but also temporally.…”

Section: Response Of Vegetation Communities To Decreasing Deer Browsimentioning

confidence: 89%

Decreasing deer browsing pressure influenced understory vegetation dynamics over 30 years

Boulanger

Baltzinger²,

Saı̈d

et al. 2014

Annals of Forest Science

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Abstract& Key message Thanks to the concomitant recordings of vegetation and deer browsing sampled first in 1976, then resurveyed in 2006, we show that forest plant communities shifted in response to deer population dynamics, stand management and eutrophication. & Context and aims High deer populations alter forest understory dynamics worldwide. However, no study ever attempted to rank the importance of deer herbivory relatively to other environmental drivers. In the Arc-en-Barrois National Forest (France), we investigated whether (i) deer browsing is a critical driver of vegetation composition and dynamics, (ii) the vegetation communities recover after a decrease in deer populations. & Methods In 2006, we resurveyed 321 plots from a network of 1027 plots where vegetation composition and browsing pressure was first assessed in 1976. We used coinertia analysis to identify the gradients in vegetation composition in 1976, when abiotic variables were also recorded. We assessed shifts in plant community composition using mean Ellenberg indicator values, analysed plot scores shifts along the axes of the coinertia analysis and correlated these shifts with changes in browsing pressure. & Results Two major gradients determined vegetation composition in 1976: edaphic variables (nitrogen availability and soil moisture) and browsing pressure. Over the next 30 years, we noticed a strong increase in nitrophilous plant species frequency and community composition shifted towards lightly browsed characteristics, accompanying a decrease in browsing pressure. Shifts in community composition were significantly correlated with the intensity of changes in browsing pressure, showing that deer population dynamics were a determinant driver of changes in plant assemblages. We observed an incomplete recovery of the communities 25 years after the reduction of deer densities, suggesting a delayed response to deer population reduction. Long-term monitoring of forest biodiversity should therefore include browsing pressure assessment to control for potential effects of wild ungulates.

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Section: Response Of Vegetation Communities To Decreasing Deer Browsimentioning

confidence: 89%

Decreasing deer browsing pressure influenced understory vegetation dynamics over 30 years

Boulanger

Baltzinger²,

Saı̈d

et al. 2014

Annals of Forest Science

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“…Vegetation-based indices (i.e., phytoindicators) of browsing are typically preferred as they allow a rapid and costeffective assessment of browse impacts on forest communities (Iijima and Nagaike, 2015). Vegetation indicators include browse surveys (Oak browsing index; Chevrier et al, 2012; Sugar maple browse index; Frelich and Lorimer, 1985), measurements of morphological characteristics of browse-sensitive species (e.g., height or impact to reproductive structures; reviewed by Kirschbaum and Anacker, 2005), demographic characteristics of plant populations (Knight, 2003;McGraw and Furedi, 2005), and even integrated indices that consider responses at the plant community-level (Filazzola et al, 2014;Frerker et al, 2013) or across taxonomic groups (e.g., plants and insects; Bachand et al, 2014). Ultimately, monitoring browse indicators provides managers critical data to sustainably manage their resources.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The canary in the coal mine: Sprouts as a rapid indicator of browse impact in managed forests

Royo

Kramer

Miller

et al. 2016

Ecological Indicators

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a b s t r a c tForest managers are frequently confronted with sustaining vegetation diversity and structure in landscapes experiencing high ungulate browsing pressure. Often, managers monitor browse damage and risk to plant communities using vegetation as indicators (i.e., phytoindicators). Although useful, the efficacy of traditional phytoindicators is sometimes hampered by limited distribution and abundance, variable browse susceptibility, and lagged responses. In contrast, sprouts possess traits which make them readily available and attractive to browsers, yet fairly resilient to tissue loss. Here, we experimentally evaluate whether hardwood tree stump sprouts are effective and sensitive phytoindicators of deer browse pressure. We measured sprout abundance and height in fenced and unfenced plots at 17 shelterwood harvested sites scattered across a 6500 km 2 region where deer densities varied by nearly an order of magnitude. We found browsing did not alter the proportion of stumps sprouting and sprout density; however, browse pressure varied among the four most abundant species. Acer rubrum and Acer saccharum were heavily browsed, although browse pressure on A. saccharum decreased in areas with greater canopy openness. Fagus grandifolia and Prunus serotina were less preferred. Differences in palatability altered size hierarchies. Averaged across all species, browsing reduced sprout height by 39%, relative to protected sprouts. Under ambient browsing, P. serotina was 60-100% taller than other species and significantly taller than A. saccharum and F. grandifolia. However, within fences A. saccharum and A. rubrum doubled in size, relative to browsed individuals, and were as tall as P. serotina. Deer impact on sprout height within unfenced forest stands was negatively correlated with estimated deer densities (R 2 = 0.46). Thus, we suggest sprout surveys can provide a measure of impact across much larger areas. Our results demonstrate that sprouts, particularly those of Acer species, offer an abundant, easily measured, and reliable indicator of browse pressure. Moreover, browse impacts on sprouts emerged before impacts were detected on seedling abundance, height, or biomass. We argue sprouts can warn of imminent browse risk to seedlings (and perhaps non-woody vegetation) and thereby allow managers to take actions to mitigate or avert losses to the regenerating seedling cohort.Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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“…Accordingly, Red Crossbills are more efficient in foraging on closed cones than White-winged Crossbills and the predicted foraging efficiency of percna is higher than other Red Crossbills mainly based on the size of its bill (Benkman 1987 We expected Red Crossbills to be associated with mature forest stands, but most of our Red Crossbill observations occurred in relatively young forests stands dominated by white spruce, although we acknowledge that we surveyed only the central region of the island. Indeed, a recent study reported that Red Crossbills are indicators of mature conifer forests with high deer density on Anticosti Island (Bachand et al 2014). Although our results are not congruent with Bachand et al (2014), spruce budworm infestations during our survey may have influenced foraging behaviors of Red Crossbills.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, a recent study reported that Red Crossbills are indicators of mature conifer forests with high deer density on Anticosti Island (Bachand et al 2014). Although our results are not congruent with Bachand et al (2014), spruce budworm infestations during our survey may have influenced foraging behaviors of Red Crossbills. Accordingly, 20% of Red Crossbill observations occurred in forest stands mapped as infested by spruce budworms, and up to 75% of observations were within 1 km of mapped infested stands.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Range extension of the threatened Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra percna) in Canada: new insights from Anticosti Island, Québec

Tremblay¹,

Robert²,

Hynes³

et al. 2018

ACE

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ABSTRACT. Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra percna; e.g., Type 8) is considered a distinctive taxonomic group likely restricted to the island of Newfoundland. Although it has been speculated that the percna subspecies may be extinct, recent works continue to show that Red Crossbills from insular Newfoundland are morphologically and vocally distinct. Large-billed Red Crossbills that may be percna have been observed outside Newfoundland and these sightings are likely due to movements of birds to the mainland during times of food shortages in their core range of occurrence. Red Crossbills had been previously detected on Anticosti Island, in 1963 and in the 1980s, but subspecies or vocal type identification was not attempted at that time. In recent years, regular sightings of large-billed Red Crossbills have been reported annually on Anticosti Island. Our main objectives with this study were to find Red Crossbills on Anticosti Island to (1) confirm the presence of percna by collecting vocal and morphological data, and (2) determine habitat associations of observed Red Crossbills. Morphometric and spectrographic analyses confirmed that some of the Red Crossbills present on Anticosti during our study were percna. Our results also suggest that the island may support breeding individuals of percna, which has direct consequences for the species' recovery capability, because it would increase the known population of this threatened species.Expansion de l'aire de répartition du Bec-croisé des sapins (Loxia curvirostra percna), une espèce menacée, au Canada : nouvelles découvertes provenant de l'île d'Anticosti, Québec RÉSUMÉ. Les Becs-croisés des sapins du type 8 (Loxia curvirostra percna) sont considérés comme un groupe taxonomique distinct, vraisemblablement limité à l'île de Terre-Neuve. Même s'il a été avancé que la sous-espèce percna pourrait être disparue, des travaux récents indiquent encore que les becs-croisés observés sur Terre-Neuve ont une morphologie et des vocalisations distinctes des autres sous-espèces. Des Becs-croisés des sapins munis d'un gros bec et appartenant peut-être à la sous-espèce percna ont été observés à l'extérieur de Terre-Neuve; ces observations sont probablement le fait d'oiseaux s'étant déplacés vers le continent lorsqu'une disette sévissait dans le coeur de leur aire de répartition. Des Becs-croisés des sapins ont déjà été repérés sur l'île d'Anticosti, en 1963 et dans les années 1980, mais aucune identification à la sous-espèce ou au type vocal n'avait alors été faite. Des observations régulières de Becscroisés des sapins à gros bec ont été rapportées chaque année sur cette île au cours des récentes années. Notre étude avait pour but de trouver des Becs-croisés des sapins sur Anticosti pour : 1) confirmer la présence de percna en amassant des données vocales et morphométriques; et 2) déterminer les habitats que fréquente cet oiseau sur cet île. Les analyses morphométrique et spectrographique ont confirmé que certains des becs-croisés présents sur Anticosti durant notre étude étaient des L...

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Species indicators of ecosystem recovery after reducing large herbivore density: Comparing taxa and testing species combinations

Abstract: Està subjecte a una llicència de Reconeixement-NoComercial-SenseObraDerivada 4.0 de Creative Commons

Cited by 35 publications

References 48 publications

Decreasing deer browsing pressure influenced understory vegetation dynamics over 30 years

Decreasing deer browsing pressure influenced understory vegetation dynamics over 30 years

The canary in the coal mine: Sprouts as a rapid indicator of browse impact in managed forests

Range extension of the threatened Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra percna) in Canada: new insights from Anticosti Island, Québec

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