Factors influencing browsing by fallow deer Dama dama in young broad-leaved plantations

The impact of fallow deer Dama dama on 74 young broadleaf plantations in a lowland area in eastern Suffolk was assessed. The effects of plantation size, shape, species composition, the extent of cover for deer and the extent of alternative browse on the degree of deer damage were investigated. Plant...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological conservation 1999-02, Vol.87 (2), p.255-260
Main Authors: Moore, N.P, Hart, J.D, Langton, S.D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Broad-leaved
Browsing
Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife
Dama dama
Damage
Deer
Fallow
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking
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Summary:The impact of fallow deer Dama dama on 74 young broadleaf plantations in a lowland area in eastern Suffolk was assessed. The effects of plantation size, shape, species composition, the extent of cover for deer and the extent of alternative browse on the degree of deer damage were investigated. Plantations located in open-arable habitats were least damaged by deer. Small plantations tended to experience higher damage levels than larger ones. Plantations that contained much cover and were adjacent to woodland were particularly prone to damage as were those that were surrounded by cover and were within woodland. The composition of the tree species planted also had a significant effect on the probability of damage. The implications for conservation of planting new broad-leaved woodlands in areas with populations of fallow deer are discussed.
ISSN:0006-3207
1873-2917
DOI:10.1016/S0006-3207(98)00055-X