Wild boar and red deer affect soil nutrients and soil biota in steep oak stands of the Eifel

Mohr, Dirk; Cohnstaedt, Lee W.; Topp, Werner

doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2004.10.002

Cited by 86 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…In spite of significant soil disturbance-up to 33% of the area rooted every winter-boar rooting in our system reduced only soil compaction. Our findings, while surprising, are consistent with previous studies that showed idiosyncratic effects of rooting on soil properties and processes (Singer et al 1984, Groot Bruinderink and Hazebroek 1996, Moody and Jones 2000, Cushman et al 2004, Mohr et al 2005, Tierney and Cushman 2006, Siemann et al 2009). Two mechanisms might explain the absence of response of soil properties to rooting disturbance: soil resilience and the temporal scale.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Disparate responses of above‐ and belowground properties to soil disturbance by an invasive mammal

2014

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Abstract. Introduced mammalian herbivores can negatively affect ecosystem structure and function if they introduce a novel disturbance to an ecosystem. For example, belowground foraging herbivores that bioturbate the soil, may alter process rates and community composition in ecosystems that lack native belowground mammalian foragers. Wild boar (Sus scrofa) disturb the soil system and plant community via their rooting behavior in their native range. Given their size and the numbers in their populations, this disturbance can be significant in forested ecosystems. Recently, wild boar were introduced to Patagonian forests lacking native mammalian herbivores that forage belowground. To explore how introduced wild boar might alter forested ecosystems, we conducted a large-scale wild boar exclusion experiment in three different forest types (Austroducedrus chilensis forest, Nothofagus dombeyi forest, and shrublands). Wild boar presence altered plant composition and structure, reducing plant biomass 3.8-fold and decreasing both grass and herb cover relative to areas where wild boar were excluded. Decomposition rates and soil compaction also declined by 5% in areas where boar had access; however, rooting had no effect on soil nutrient stocks and cycling. Interestingly, there were no differences in wild boar impacts on different forest types. We found that after 3-years of exclusion, belowground foraging by wild boar had a larger impact on plant community structure and biomass than it did on soil nutrient processes.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Disparate responses of above‐ and belowground properties to soil disturbance by an invasive mammal

2014

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“…For instance, rooting behaviour removes understory vegetation from large areas, thus modifying soil composition, the pH and the decomposition process, which implies changes in vegetation diversity and structure (Mohr et al 2005, Bueno et al 2010. The areas with the highest percentage of leguminosae could attract greater amounts of wild boar (Bugalho and Milne 2003), which use them as a source of protein (Ritchie et al 1998) and can harm the rabbit by direct competition through the consumption of leguminosae (Côté et al 2004), since habitat alteration by rooting can affect hundreds of hectares (Bueno et al 2011).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Caughley and Grigg (1981), a particular wildlife species can be considered as "overabundant" if, among other things, it causes dysfunctions in the ecosystem (the consequences of "overabundance" are dealt by Côté et al 2004). Previous studies have highlighted the negative effects of over-foraging by ungulates on vertebrate or invertebrate wildlife, vegetation and soil dynamics (Mohr et al 2005, Häsler and Senn 2012, Macci et al 2012. High densities of ungulates may affect other species as a result of habitat modification and the degradation of certain resources that are critical for other species (Côté et al 2004).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ungulate browsing on European silver fir Abies alba: the role of occasions, food shortage and diet preferences

Häsler

Senn

2012

Wildlife Biology

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European silver fir Abies alba is the most heavily browsed conifer in Central European mountain forests. Attempts to reduce ungulate browsing have often been unsuccessful, controversial or too costly. The aim of the work described here was to improve our understanding of the factors that lead to browsing on silver fir. The silver fir content in the diet of three sympatric ungulate species, chamois Rupicapra rupicapra, red deer Cervus elaphus and roe deer Capreolus capreolus, was determined by microhistological analysis of faeces collected at four sites in the Alps. Further, the supply of silver fir was assessed at the individual tree and patch scale and then extrapolated to site scale. Silver fir consumption was highest in winter, when diet composition varied among sites but not among ungulate species. Towards the summer, site‐differences decreased and differences among ungulate species increased. Red and roe deer reduced consumption of silver fir, whereas chamois kept it constant. The use of silver fir was unrelated to the supply at the various sites, but increased with the proportion of trees growing amidst palatable herbaceous species. At the individual plant scale, ungulates browsed on the saplings with the larger needles. These results indicate that silver fir as food does not rank high among the available plant species, but is eaten opportunistically, especially when it grows close to more preferred food plants. However, when alternative food is scarce, particularly in winter, it may also represent a shortage food supply, and larger quantities are consumed. Yet, the fact that feeding on silver fir is mostly opportunistic may offer forest managers a way to approach the ‘browsing problem’.

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“…In recent decades there has been increasing recognition that deer can strongly influence forest ecosystems worldwide (Kirby 2001;Russell et al 2001;Rooney and Waller 2003;Cote et al 2004) and may cause serious damage to ecosystem functions such as biodiversity (Fuller 2001;Cote et al 2004;Bressette et al 2012) and soil conservation (Furusawa et al 2003;Mohr et al 2005;Wakahara et al 2008). In Japanese plantations, some researchers have examined damage to trees such as the browsing of branches and leaves of juvenile trees (Koizumi 2002) and bark-stripping of adult trees by sika deer (Ueda et al 2002;Jiang et al 2005;Akashi and Terazawa 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of understory vegetation over 10 years after thinning in an old-growth cedar and cypress plantation overgrazed by sika deer in eastern Japan

Tamura

Yamane

2017

For. Ecosyst.

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Response of understory vegetation over 10 years after thinning in an old-growth cedar and cypress plantation overgrazed by sika deer in eastern Japan Atsushi Tamura * and Masanobu Yamane Abstract Background: Forest management strategies such as thinning have long been used to enhance ecosystem functions, especially in plantations. Thinning in plantations with high deer density, however, may not yield a desired increase in understory vegetation because deer graze on germinating plants after thinning. Here, we examine the changes in understory vegetation after thinning in plantations that have been overgrazed by sika deer to provide insight into the effects of thinning on ecosystem functions such as soil conservation and biological diversity. Methods: We conducted our survey in the Tanzawa Mountains of eastern Japan. We surveyed the change in understory vegetation within and outside of three deer exclosures on a single slope with three levels of understory vegetation cover: sparse (1%, exclosure "US"), moderate (30%, exclosure "MM"), and dense (80%, exclosure "LD") over 10 years after a 30% thinning of an old-growth cedar and cypress plantation which was overgrazed by sika deer. Results: Understory vegetation cover, biomass and species richness increased within and outside the "US" and "MM" exclosures after thinning, and biomass was greater within than outside the exclosures at 10 years after thinning. Unpalatable species dominated both "US" and "MM" exclosures before thinning, and trees and shrubs dominated within the exclosures over time after thinning. In contrast, unpalatable, grazing-tolerant, perennial, and annual species increased outside the "US" and "MM" exclosures. No noticeable changes were observed within and outside the "LD" exclosure when compared with the "US" and "MM" exclosures. Conclusions: Our results suggest that thinning a stand by 30% based on volume resulted in an increase in understory vegetation cover mainly composed of both unpalatable and grazing-tolerant species in a plantation forest where understory vegetation is sparse or moderate and sika deer density is high. We emphasize that establishing deer exclosures or controlling deer is essential to maintaining similar understory vegetation both within and outside exclosures.

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Wild boar and red deer affect soil nutrients and soil biota in steep oak stands of the Eifel

Cited by 86 publications

References 29 publications

Disparate responses of above‐ and belowground properties to soil disturbance by an invasive mammal

Disparate responses of above‐ and belowground properties to soil disturbance by an invasive mammal

Ungulate browsing on European silver fir Abies alba: the role of occasions, food shortage and diet preferences

Response of understory vegetation over 10 years after thinning in an old-growth cedar and cypress plantation overgrazed by sika deer in eastern Japan

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