The paradox of long-term ungulate impact: increase of plant species richness in a temperate forest.

ABSTRACT:

Questions

Did high densities of wild ungulates cause a decline in plant species richness in a temperate oakwood? How did species composition change after nearly five decades? Did ungulates facilitate the spread of ruderal species and supress endangered species? Did dispersal strategies play a role in these processes?

Location

Krumlov Wood, SE Czech Republic.

Methods

In 2012, we resampled 58 quasi-permanent vegetation plots first surveyed in 1960s. Between the surveys, 36 plots were enclosed in a game preserve with artificially high density of ungulates (mostly deer, mouflon and wild boar; ca. 55 animals per square km). We analysed the differences in temporal changes between plots inside and outside the game preserve, focusing on species diversity and composition. We a

SUBMITTER: Vild O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5726491 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature