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

DEB-0108208卡利兹白尾鹿种群数量在过去50年里在北美东半部急剧增加。作为这种增长的结果，森林中的非木本林下植被正在更大程度上被消耗。这导致了当地野生花卉群落在有鹿的情况下开花和结果的显着下降。然而，当鹿被栅栏拒之门外时，一些以前被鹿吃掉的植物物种被观察到长得更大并繁殖。鹿灭绝中的其他物种不能繁殖。这项研究的目的是确定在持续存在或不存在鹿的情况下，林下野生花卉物种持续存在或衰落的可能性。利用自然出现在鹿圈围栏(围栏)和成对对照(无栅栏)的关键物种，我们将监测它们的生长、存活、开花和结果。将利用围栏和对照地块的数据进行比较人口统计分析，以确定这些物种生存或灭绝的可能性。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.