Persistence or Extinction: Demographic Analyses of Herbaceous Understory Plants' Responses to the Elevated Deer Abundance in Forest Communities

在过去的50年里，北美东半部的白尾鹿数量急剧增加。 由于这一增加，森林中的非木本林下植被被消耗的程度更大。 这导致了本地野生花卉群落在鹿的存在下开花和结果的显着下降。 然而，当鹿通过围栏被排除在外时，一些以前被鹿食用的植物物种被观察到生长到更大的尺寸并繁殖。 鹿群中的其他物种没有繁殖。本研究的目的是确定在鹿持续存在或不存在的情况下林下野生花卉物种持续存在或减少的可能性。 利用自然发生在鹿围封地块（围栏）和配对对照地块（无围栏）的关键物种，我们将监测它们的生长，生存，开花和结果。将利用围封区和对照区的数据进行比较人口分析，以确定这些物种持续存在或灭绝的可能性。 这项研究将有助于为野生动物和森林管理决策提供信息。

DEB- 0108208 KaliszWhite-tailed deer population sizes have increased dramatically over the last 50 years in the eastern half of North America. As a result of this increase, the non-woody understory vegetation in forests is being consumed to a greater degree. This has resulted in a significant decline in flowering and fruiting of the native wild flower community in the presence of deer. However, when deer were excluded via fences, some plant species that were previously consumed by deer were observed to grow to larger sizes and reproduce. Other species in the deer exclosures are not reproducing. The goal of this research is to determine the likelihood of persistence or decline of understory wild flower species in the continued presence or absence of deer. Using key species naturally occurring in deer exclosure plots (fenced) and paired control plots (no fence) we will monitor their growth, survival , flowering and fruiting. Comparative demographic analyses using data from exclosure and control plots will be conducted to determine the likelihood of persistence or extinction of these species. This research will help inform wildlife and forest management decisions.