Forest Research Institute, Raszyn, Poland.
Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland.
Pest Manag Sci. 2021 Feb;77(2):628-634. doi: 10.1002/ps.6207. Epub 2020 Dec 16.
Deer pressure on forest regeneration constitutes a serious problem in commercial forests in the northern hemisphere due to the increase in deer populations. However, other drivers, such as climate, landscape structure and the level of human activity, have a strong influence on deer pressure. The direct, density-related impacts of ungulates on forest regeneration have been well studied, but there is limited empirical evidence related to the indirect factors mentioned above. We conducted a field experiment in three forest divisions in Poland to evaluate the role of a common element of human infrastructure, i.e. small, unpaved forestry roads. Additionally, we assessed the modifying effect of visibility driven by vegetation cover and forage availability.
The proximity of unpaved roads affected deer habitat use and foraging behaviour, and limited browsing pressure on regenerating forests. Low visibility and higher winter forage availability increased the probability of tree browsing. We observed different responses to roads in two deer species: red deer avoided roads, while roe deer browsed in the vicinity of roads.
A typical forest network of unpaved roads creates a landscape of fear for red and roe deer, and limits browsing pressure on regenerating forests due to the changes in deer habitat use, activity patterns and foraging behaviour. Knowledge of the factors influencing browsing pressure can help to spatially optimise the application of protective measures for tree seedlings.
由于鹿群数量的增加，鹿对森林再生的压力在北半球的商业林中构成了一个严重的问题。然而，其他驱动因素，如气候、景观结构和人类活动水平，对鹿的压力有很大的影响。有蹄类动物对森林再生的直接、密度相关的影响已经得到了很好的研究，但与上述间接因素相关的经验证据有限。我们在波兰的三个森林区进行了一项实地实验，以评估人类基础设施的一个共同要素，即小而未铺砌的林业道路的作用。此外，我们评估了植被覆盖和饲料供应驱动的能见度的调节作用。
未铺砌道路的接近度影响了鹿的栖息地利用和觅食行为，并限制了对再生林的啃食压力。低能见度和更高的冬季饲料供应增加了树木啃食的可能性。我们观察到两种鹿对道路的不同反应：马鹿避开道路，而狍鹿在道路附近啃食。
典型的未铺砌道路的森林网络为马鹿和狍鹿创造了一个恐惧的景观，并由于鹿的栖息地利用、活动模式和觅食行为的改变，限制了对再生林的啃食压力。了解影响啃食压力的因素可以帮助在空间上优化对树苗的保护措施的应用。
