Publication details
The paradox of long-term ungulate impact: increase of plant species richness in a temperate forest
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2017 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Applied Vegetation Science |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | Full Text |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/avsc.12289 |
| Keywords | Deer; Disturbance; Game preserve; Long-term change; Plant–herbivore interactions; Semi-permanent plots; Species richness; Taxonomic homogenization; Vegetation resurvey |
| Description | Questions: Did high densities of wild ungulates cause a decline in plant species richness in a temperate oak wood? 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 the 1960s. Between the surveys, 36 plots were enclosed in a game preserve with artificially high density of ungulates (mostly deer, mouflon and wild boar. We analysed the differences in temporal changes between plots inside and outside the game preserve, focusing on species diversity and composition. We assessed species characteristics relevant to grazing to understand compositional changes. |