The effects of hurricane Lothar on habitat use of roe deer

Widmer, Olivier

doi:10.1016/s0378-1127(04)00144-6

Cited by 7 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…At the La Petite Pierre reserve, both roe deer and red deer are hunted (forty individuals of each species, each year in a 2700 ha forest). Moreover, the recent increase of food resources generated by the Lothar hurricane in 1999 could have contributed to decrease interspecific competition by improving roe deer condition (Duncan et al 1998, Widmer et al 2004). Climatic factors such as summer droughts and winter severity likely contribute to some changes although we lack quantitative information on the effect of climatic factors on population growth in either roe deer or red deer.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Studying spatial interactions between sympatric populations of large herbivores: a null model approach

Richard¹,

Clément²,

Saı̈d³

et al. 2012

Ecography

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Sympatric populations of species with similar ecology are limited by competition for available resources. While quantifying niche overlap between species in interaction offers a useful description of coexistence patterns, the lack of correspondence between niche overlap and competition prevents any functional interpretation. Using an innovative approach for analysing spatial distributions of individuals from two sympatric species, we aim to fill the gap. We applied our models to data collected on sympatric females of roe deer and red deer. Using the null model approach commonly applied in community ecology, we tested in a first model for deviation from a random distribution of female roe deer in relation to female red deer. We took into account constraints generated by both the marked sedentary habits and habitat use (avoidance of mature forest) of roe deer in this null model. In a second null model, we removed the habitat constraints to avoid any lack of power of our tests. We then compared the overlap index calculated from roe deer and red deer locations with the distribution expected under each of these null models. As we failed to reject the null model in both cases, we tested a third null model simulating an identical distribution of roe deer and red deer home ranges and we rejected it. Our results show that the distribution of female roe deer does not depend on the distribution of female red deer, indicating an absence of competitive interactions between the deer species. This conclusion relies on the application of the null model approach, which provides a suitable way of performing a formal test of interspecific competition rooted in explicitly defined hypotheses, and could not have been reached using simple overlap indices as generally performed when assessing competitive interactions. We thus encourage scientists to apply this null model analysis to population ecology.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Studying spatial interactions between sympatric populations of large herbivores: a null model approach

Richard¹,

Clément²,

Saı̈d³

et al. 2012

Ecography

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“…Thus hypothesis accounts for the negative relationship we found between areas hit by hurricane and roe deer home range size. In addition, [31] showed that female roe deer decreased by two fold their home range size after the hurricane, and [30] showed that Lothar did not impact roe deer population dynamics. A combination between a high hunting pressure on both deer species that kept these populations at low density and a large amount of food resources brought by Lothar was likely to reduce the competition between deer species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 1999, the hurricane Lothar hit our study area. Lothar increased the amount of resources available for herbivores [30], [31], so we expected a negative relationship to occur between the home range size of both deer species and the proportion of area hit by Lothar (P3a). We expected the same relationship to occur for increased openness generated by forest management, so that home ranges including forest management should be smaller than home ranges without any forest management (P3b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Toward an Identification of Resources Influencing Habitat Use in a Multi-Specific Context

2011

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Interactions between animal behaviour and the environment are both shaping observed habitat use. Despite the importance of inter-specific interactions on the habitat use performed by individuals, most previous analyses have focused on case studies of single species. By focusing on two sympatric populations of large herbivores with contrasting body size, we went one step beyond by studying variation in home range size and identifying the factors involved in such variation, to define how habitat features such as resource heterogeneity, resource quality, and openness created by hurricane or forest managers, and constraints may influence habitat use at the individual level. We found a large variability among individual's home range size in both species, particularly in summer. Season appeared as the most important factor accounting for observed variation in home range size. Regarding habitat features, we found that (i) the proportion of area damaged by the hurricane was the only habitat component that inversely influenced roe deer home range size, (ii) this habitat type also influenced both diurnal and nocturnal red deer home range sizes, (iii) home range size of red deer during the day was inversely influenced by the biomass of their preferred plants, as were both diurnal and nocturnal core areas of the red deer home range, and (iv) we do not find any effect of resource heterogeneity on home range size in any case. Our results suggest that a particular habitat type (i.e. areas damaged by hurricane) can be used by individuals of sympatric species because it brings both protected and dietary resources. Thus, it is necessary to maintain the openness of these areas and to keep animal density quite low as observed in these hunted populations to limit competition between these sympatric populations of herbivores.

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“…Some research indicates that deer tend to concentrate in stands damaged by natural disturbance due to increased food and shelter resources [137]. In open areas with abundant resources, younger and generally more palatable plants are abundant.…”

Section: Browsingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges for Uneven-Aged Silviculture in Restoration of Post-Disturbance Forests in Central Europe: A Synthesis

Diaci

Roženbergar

Fidej

et al. 2017

Forests

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Forest managers are often required to restore forest stands following natural disturbances, a situation that may become more common and more challenging under global change. In parts of Central Europe, particularly in mountain regions dominated by mixed temperate forests, the use of relatively low intensity, uneven-aged silviculture is a common management approach. Because this type of management is based on mimicking less intense disturbances, the restoration of more severe disturbance patches within forested landscapes has received little attention. The goal of this paper is to synthesize research on the restoration of forests damaged by disturbances in temperate forests of Slovenia and neighbouring regions of Central Europe, where uneven-aged silviculture is practiced. Research indicates that active management aimed at favouring mixed uneven-aged forest reduces the risk of disturbance and improves the resilience of stands. Salvage logging may have positive or negative effects on regeneration, much of which is due to the method applied and the quality of work. The most prominent factors that negatively affect restoration are: lack of advanced regeneration and decomposed woody debris, high altitude, steep slopes, dense ground vegetation, and overbrowsing. Planting or sowing should be applied in post-disturbance forests where many negative factors interact and where a high demand for sustainability of forest ecosystem services is present.

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The effects of hurricane Lothar on habitat use of roe deer

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

Studying spatial interactions between sympatric populations of large herbivores: a null model approach

Studying spatial interactions between sympatric populations of large herbivores: a null model approach

Toward an Identification of Resources Influencing Habitat Use in a Multi-Specific Context

Challenges for Uneven-Aged Silviculture in Restoration of Post-Disturbance Forests in Central Europe: A Synthesis

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