The impact of deer browsing on tree growth, plant biomass and biodiversity.

Abstract

Herbivores have a major impact on the ecological communities they inhabit. In the past two decades, deer habitat in Michigan has increased significantly, thus intensifying the effects of herbivory. This study examines the impact of deer browsing on plant growth, abundance, and diversity. We conducted our research at UMBS, in a forest plot that was burned in 1998, where part of the site holds an enclosure that inhibits deer browsing. In order to examine the effects that deer have on tree growth, we compared the diameter at breast height and the number of branches below 2 meters for adult trees within and outside of the enclosure. Simultaneously, ground plant species in smaller sample plots were recorded, along with percent coverage. Our results showed that browsing did not have an impact on diameter at breast height, but the number of branches per tree was significantly lower for browsed trees. The data also supported our prediction that plant abundance was significantly lower outside of the deer enclosure. Future research could be cone on the effects of browsing on the production of secondary compounds, canopy coverage, and how yearly fluctuations in deer population effect plant growth patterns.