Deer exclusion unveils abiotic filtering in forest understorey plant assemblages.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

The role of deer (family Cervidae) in ecosystem functioning has traditionally been neglected by forest ecologists due to the animal's scarcity in most parts of the northern hemisphere. However, the dramatic rebound in deer populations throughout the 20th century has brought deer browsing to the forefront of forest ecological questioning. Today there is ample evidence that deer affect tree regeneration, understorey plant and animal diversity, and even litter decomposition. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of deer on forest ecosystems remain unclear. Among others, the relative role of abiotic factors versus biotic interactions (e.g. herbivory) in shaping plant assemblages remains largely unknown.

Methods

We used a large-scale experiment with e

SUBMITTER: Chollet S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8389181 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature