Deer density effects on vegetation in aspen forest understories over site productivity and stand age gradients

• Published in: Forest ecology and management 2011-02, Vol.261 (3), p.408-415
• Main Authors: Randall, Jesse A., Walters, Michael B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Animal and plant ecology; Animal productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Aspen; Biological and medical sciences; botanical composition; browsing; Carex; Carex pensylvanica; Deer; Density; dry matter accumulation; forbs; Forest dynamics; Forest succession; forest trees; Forestry; Forests; functional diversity; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Odocoileus virginianus; plant communities; population density; Populus; Populus tremuloides; Productivity; Pteridium aquilinum; recruitment; shrubs; species diversity; stand characteristics; Stands; Supports; Synecology; temperate forests; Terrestrial animal productions; Terrestrial ecosystems; tree age; Trees; understory; Ungulate herbivory; Vegetation; Vertebrates; wildlife; woody plants
• ISSN: 0378-1127; 1872-7042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2010.10.026

▶ Higher deer density areas had greater total forest floor vegetation mass, and greater mass of sedge, fern and small (30 years differences in density between two landowners), site productivity (site index, SI) and stand age on subcanopy vegetation characteristics in 60 closed canopy, clear-cut origin Populus tremuloides dominated stands, Michigan, USA. Stand age effects were included because age varied among stands and can affect subcanopy vegetation patterns. Compared with fewer deer, stands with more deer had greater total forest floor vegetation mass, and its major components bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), sedge (mostly Carex pensylvanica) and trees/shrubs