Ondřej Vild1,2, Radim Hédl1,3, Martin Kopecký1,4, Péter Szabó1, Silvie Suchánková1, Václav Zouhar5. 1. Institute of Botany, Department of Vegetation Ecology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Lidická 25/27, Brno, 602 00, Czech Republic. 2. Masaryk University, Department of Botany and Zoology, Kotlářská 2, Brno, 611 37, Czech Republic. 3. Palacký University, Department of Botany, Šlechtitelů 27, 783 71Olomouc, Czech Republic. 4. Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6 - Suchdol, CZ-165 21, Czech Republic. 5. The Forest Management Institute, Vrázova 1, 616 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
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 assessed species characteristics relevant to grazing to understand compositional changes. RESULTS: Ungulates significantly increased alpha and gamma diversity and caused significant vegetation homogenization inside the game preserve. Vegetation homogenization and the increase in species richness resulted from massive enrichment by ruderal species. However, richness of endangered species decreased. Species dispersed by animals internally (endozoochory) increased, while species dispersed externally (epizoochory) or by wind (anemochory) decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to our expectations, our long-term data showed that artificially high ungulate densities substantially increased plant species richness. Apparently, the establishment of ruderal herbs was supported by frequent disturbances and ungulate-mediated dispersal. At the same time, species richness of non-ruderal plants did not change, probably because ungulates hindered the regeneration of woody species and maintained an open forest canopy. In conclusion, high ungulate density led to the spread of ruderal species, which in turn strongly contributed to the observed shift towards nutrient-richer conditions and taxonomically more homogenous communities.
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 assessed species characteristics relevant to grazing to understand compositional changes. RESULTS: Ungulates significantly increased alpha and gamma diversity and caused significant vegetation homogenization inside the game preserve. Vegetation homogenization and the increase in species richness resulted from massive enrichment by ruderal species. However, richness of endangered species decreased. Species dispersed by animals internally (endozoochory) increased, while species dispersed externally (epizoochory) or by wind (anemochory) decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to our expectations, our long-term data showed that artificially high ungulate densities substantially increased plant species richness. Apparently, the establishment of ruderal herbs was supported by frequent disturbances and ungulate-mediated dispersal. At the same time, species richness of non-ruderal plants did not change, probably because ungulates hindered the regeneration of woody species and maintained an open forest canopy. In conclusion, high ungulate density led to the spread of ruderal species, which in turn strongly contributed to the observed shift towards nutrient-richer conditions and taxonomically more homogenous communities.
Entities:
Keywords:
deer; disturbance; game preserve; long-term change; plant-herbivore interactions; semi-permanent plots; species richness; taxonomic homogenization; vegetation resurvey
Authors: David A Rogers; Thomas P Rooney; Todd J Hawbaker; Volker C Radeloff; Donald M Waller Journal: Conserv Biol Date: 2009-06-08 Impact factor: 6.560
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