Author : Jacob J. Trowbridge
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (143 download)
Book Synopsis Effects of White-tailed Deer Density on Physical Condition and Forest Vegetation in Cuyahoga Valley National Park by : Jacob J. Trowbridge
Download or read book Effects of White-tailed Deer Density on Physical Condition and Forest Vegetation in Cuyahoga Valley National Park written by Jacob J. Trowbridge and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Given that overabundant white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) can exert lasting negative effects in forested ecosystems, management of deer has been a foremost conservation concern in eastern North America since the last century. Although knowledge of density impacts on body mass, pregnancy rates, and forest regeneration are vital for deer management, relatively few studies have assessed these relationships in the same study area for a >5-year period. I took advantage of a managed culling program to investigate the impacts of deer density on body mass, pregnancy rates, and native forest understory and trillium (Trillium grandiflorium) regeneration at Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CUVA), Ohio, during 2016-2022. Deer densities were estimated using distance sampling in November and deer were culled by sharpshooters the following January-March. Each deer culled was aged, sexed, weighed, and inspected for fetuses (recorded as present or absent). Deer densities ranged from 8.6-18.0 deer/km2 and deer removed each study year varied between 205 and 450. Concurrently, the 1-6 tallest native seedlings per genera per subplot were measured in July-August in 25 fenced and unfenced paired plots and in long-term ecological monitoring (LTEM) plots. Browse was estimated in unfenced paired plots in alternating years. Trillium stem heights in both unfenced controls/fenced exclosures and browse in unfenced control plots were collected in April-June each year. Using a linear mixed model (LME), I analyzed change in body mass of culled deer and found a significant negative relationship with current deer density (P