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Deer Boost Seed Diversity, Slow Forest Growth
30 Sep
Summary
- Deer increased seed diversity by 8% over 18 years.
- Woody plant abundance was reduced by 50% due to deer.
- Forest recovery was delayed by deer's impact on woody plants.
A long-term experiment conducted over 18 years near Ithaca, New York, has uncovered the significant influence of white-tailed deer on plant ecosystems. The study, which began in 2005, involved excluding deer from certain plots within abandoned agricultural fields to observe their effects on seed banks and aboveground vegetation.
Results indicate that deer increased the diversity of germinated seeds by 8%, while also reducing the abundance of woody plants by 50%. Notably, only in areas where deer were excluded did trees exceed 1 cm in diameter after 16 years, suggesting a direct browsing impact that suppresses tree growth.
These findings suggest that while deer increased seedbank diversity, potentially aiding restoration efforts, their suppression of woody plants will likely delay forest recovery. The research, which analyzed over 280,000 seedlings, implies that seed banks may not significantly contribute to future shrub and tree recruitment due to the low representation of woody species.
The experiment collected soil samples annually from 2005 to 2021, identifying 144 species from emerged seedlings. Aboveground vegetation was also monitored, confirming the substantial reduction in woody plant numbers in areas accessible to deer.
