Density-dependent resource partitioning of temperate large herbivore populations under rewilding.

ABSTRACT: In tropical grazer assemblies with abundant large predators, smaller herbivores have been shown to be limited by predation and food quality, while the larger species are regulated by food abundance. Much less is known about herbivore resource partitioning in temperate grazing ecosystems, where humans typically regulate large animal abundances. The Oostvaardersplassen ecosystem in the Netherlands is a unique multispecies assemblage of cattle, horses, red deer, and geese developed after the initial introduction of a few individuals in 1983. During the first 35 years, this herbivore assemblage without predation or human regulation gradually changed into an increasing dominance of the smaller herbivore species. Carrying capacity was reached around 2008, after which numbers started fluctuating

SUBMITTER: Mas-Carrio E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12434437 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature