Effects of wild ungulates on forest ecosystem biodiversity

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Effects of wild ungulates on forest ecosystem biodiversity

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This theme addresses the effects of wild ungulates on the functioning and biodiversity of diverse terrestrial ecosystems (grasslands, forests or tundra). We study the direct effects of herbivory on plant demography (e.g. anemone, blackberry, oak), the dynamics of plant communities (vascular plants and bryophytes of the undergrowth) and forestry (forest regeneration). We use experimental defences (paddocks/exclosures), spatial and temporal (natural and simulated) herbivory gradients, and modeling. We deal with the direct and indirect effects of herbivory on plant-plant interactions (competition, facilitation) and other ecosystem components in the context of changing silvicultural practices, climate change or animal overabundance.

For more information:
•    Boulanger, V., Dupouey, J.-L., Archaux, F., Badeau, V., Baltzinger, C., Chevalier, R., Corcket, E., Dumas, Y., Forgeard, F., Mårell, A., Montpied, P., Paillet, Y., Picard, J.-F., Saïd, S., Ulrich, E. 2018. Ungulates increase forest plant species richness to the benefit of non-forest specialists. Global Change Biology, 24:e485–e495. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13899

•    Laurent, L., Mårell, A., Balandier, P., Holveck, H., Saïd, S., 2017. Understory vegetation dynamics and tree regeneration as affected by deer herbivory in temperate hardwood forests. iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry 10:837-844. https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor2186-010

•    Boulanger, V., Baltzinger, C., Said, S., Ballon, P., Picard, J.F., Dupouey, J.L. (2015). Decreasing deer browsing pressure influenced understory vegetation dynamics over 30 years. Annals of Forest Science 72:367-378. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-014-0431-z