Influence of deer herbivory on regeneration dynamics and gap capture in experimental gaps, 18 years post-harvest
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2021
Department
College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science
Abstract
Declines in species diversity have been linked to shifting disturbance regimes and increases in ungulate herbivory. Successful forest regeneration depends on silvicultural methods that can address stand-specific recruitment limitations. This study revisits a long-term experimental gap study in a hemlock-hardwood forest. Our objective was to determine if the treatment effects of deer exclosures and gap size would alter regeneration trajectories. We examined cohort development using permanent plots and gap-wide surveys of likely gap-capture trees. After 18 years, deer herbivory was a strong filter for tree regeneration and appeared to pose an insurmountable bottleneck to the recruitment of some species. Overall, 90% of unprotected stems >0.5 to ≤2 m showed evidence of being browsed by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimmerman). Our results indicate that browse sensitive species were unable to recruit even in resource-rich gap environments. Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis L.) and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton) were particularly sensitive to herbivory and absent in heights >1 m outside exclosures. However, inside exclosures in larger gaps, yellow birch saplings often co-dominated the tallest cohorts and eastern hemlock was well established at heights >1 m. Sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) was the dominant tree species across all treatments and ironwood (Ostrya virginiana Mill.) was frequently among the tallest trees in gaps outside of deer exclosures. Gap size only impacted unprotected seedlings which suggests regeneration is more sensitive to gap size when deer are present. The installation of relatively small (∼3.5% of total gap area) deer exclosures, at year two post-harvest, provided opportunities for the recruitment of browse-sensitive species. Collectively, our results highlight the pervasive role of ungulates in structuring forest composition.
Publication Title
Forest Ecology and Management
Recommended Citation
VanderMolen, M. S.,
&
Webster, C. R.
(2021).
Influence of deer herbivory on regeneration dynamics and gap capture in experimental gaps, 18 years post-harvest.
Forest Ecology and Management,
501.
http://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119675
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/15340