Steering the impacts of ungulates on temperate forests

Reimoser, Friedrich

doi:10.1078/1617-1381-00024

Cited by 88 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Therefore, the impact of ungulate herbivores on the long-term development of mountain forests, i.e., over decades to centuries, is of key importance for forest management (e.g., Reimoser, 2003;Cô té et al, 2004;Vavra et al, 2007). However, our understanding of long-term ungulatevegetation relationships is limited and associated with high uncertainty (Seagle and Liang, 1997;Augustine and McNaughton, 1998;Weisberg and Bugmann, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Long-term effects of ungulate browsing on forest composition and structure

Didion

Kupferschmid

Bugmann

2009

Forest Ecology and Management

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Long-term effects of ungulate browsing on forest composition and structure

Didion

Kupferschmid

Bugmann

2009

Forest Ecology and Management

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“…By planting even-aged seedlings in areas with non-modified browsing conditions, we wanted to assess the effect of specific seedling selection by herbivores (Kupferschmid et al, 2014). Mortality of seedlings due to browsing, although often non-visible, can be more determinant on forest dynamics than mortality of saplings, but the later has been more studied because the damages are more evident and easier to determine (Reimoser, 2003;Senn and Suter, 2003). More specifically, the study aimed to (i) assess the impact of current grazing conditions (both of livestock and wild ungulates) in forest establishment; (ii) detect if some tree species were preferred by herbivores over others; (iii) determine how variations in meso-habitat (elevation and type of forest cover) and microhabitat (herbaceous cover, distance to shrub, light availability) may engender different patterns of plant consumption by herbivores; and (iv) discuss the potential implications of the observed patterns for forest dynamics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Herbivory and seedling establishment in Pyrenean forests: Influence of micro- and meso-habitat factors on browsing pressure

Améztegui

Coll

2015

Forest Ecology and Management

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a b s t r a c tBrowsing damage is among the most determinant factors that limit the establishment of tree seedlings in forests. In some areas, this process leads to massive mortalities that can reduce or even completely prevent the regeneration of some tree species. Mediterranean mountain forests have undergone during the last decades important changes in land-uses that have significantly altered the type and abundance of herbivore populations. In this study we assessed the impact of current grazing conditions in forest regeneration using a set of experimental plantations established in the Eastern Pyrenees in areas visited by domestic livestock (cattle and horses) and wild ungulates (mainly roe deer and chamois). We analyzed during 4 years the role of seedling species and size, mesohabitat (elevation and type of forest cover) and microhabitat (herbaceous cover, distance to shrub, and light availability) on the browsing-induced mortality of more than 500 seedlings of Pinus sylvestris, Pinus uncinata, Betula pendula and Abies alba, the most common tree species in the study area. Browsing-induced mortality for the three conifer species was much lower (<15%) than the one observed for B. pendula (>40%) and depended on both microhabitat -mainly on the distance to protective elements such as shrubs; and mesohabitat, with an interaction between the elevational belt (site) and the type of forest cover (gaps vs. understory). In the subalpine belt, browsing on A. alba and P. uncinata was higher during summer at plots located in the forest understory whereas, during winter, it was higher at plots located in gaps. The study shows that both mesohabitat and microhabitat can exert an effect on the patterns of plant damage by herbivores, providing useful information to adapt forest management in areas particularly exposed to them.

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“…Therefore, great attention is paid to the study of factors influencing habitat use by herbivores and their browsing impact (Kay 1993;Homolka and Heroldová 2003;Reimoser 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduction of herbivore density as a tool for reduction of herbivore browsing on palatable tree species

et al. 2009

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Browsing of overabundant free-living herbivores often limits the natural as well as artificial regeneration of forest in Central-European Mountains. The aim of the study was to assess the efficiency of the extensive reductions of herbivore populations for protection of forest regeneration in preferred areas. We analysed the relationship between the intensity of shoot browsing and relative density of herbivores in viewpoint of natural regeneration of secondary mountain spruce stands with low proportion of broadleaved trees in Králický Sněžník Reserve (Czech Republic). The distribution of seasonally migrating herbivores was established by counting faecal pellet groups (standing crop method) in growing season. The intensity of browsing of spruce, beech and rowan was assessed using the proportion of browsed shoots on individual tree sapling. Density of red deer was re-counted from the number of pellet groups and it was 15-56 individual/km 2 . The intensity of spruce browsing was low in the whole area in all seasons. In general, the intensity of rowan and beech shoot browsing was high in the whole area. There were no correlations between deer density and browsing intensity of rowan (browsing was severe in all plots). We conclude that the natural regeneration of attractive trees and shrubs is nearly impossible in habitats where proportion of these food items is too small, even when the density of herbivores is low. Reduction of herbivores density is useful for protecting spruce and other tree species with low preference by herbivores. Forest managers should take into account the high palatability of deciduous tree species and distribution of herbivores on localities. Preference of localities is often based on grasses in the food supply. Regeneration of highly palatable tree species requires both low density of herbivores and sufficient protection of saplings.

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Steering the impacts of ungulates on temperate forests

Cited by 88 publications

References 17 publications

Long-term effects of ungulate browsing on forest composition and structure

Long-term effects of ungulate browsing on forest composition and structure

Herbivory and seedling establishment in Pyrenean forests: Influence of micro- and meso-habitat factors on browsing pressure

Reduction of herbivore density as a tool for reduction of herbivore browsing on palatable tree species

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