Kangaroos, feral herbivores and bushfires: Consequences for forest dynamics

本项目旨在通过一个功能强大、高度重复的食草动物围封实验，研究森林生态系统中本地和外来食草动物的功能作用。该项目期望创造关于哺乳动物食草动物，特别是袋鼠和入侵鹿对森林植物、土壤和生产力的影响的新知识。预期成果包括对森林地上和地下相互作用的基本认识，以及提高预测环境梯度中食草动物种群变化的影响和火灾后食草动物种群变化的能力。这将为澳大利亚的森林管理带来巨大的好处，可以对入侵的食草动物种群进行知情的、有针对性的和先发制人的管理。

This project aims to investigate the functional role of native and introduced herbivores in forest ecosystems using a powerful, highly replicated, herbivore exclosure experiment. This project expects to create new knowledge of the effects of mammalian herbivores, particularly kangaroos and invasive deer, on forest plants, soils and productivity. Expected outcomes include fundamental insights into above and belowground interactions in forests, and an enhanced capacity to predict effects of changing herbivore populations across environmental gradients, and following bushfire. This should produce significant benefits for forest management in Australia, allowing informed, targeted, and pre-emptive management of invasive herbivore populations.