Browsing evidence of the native and near-threatened Pudu puda deer in restoration plantings on Chiloé Island, Chile

Gayana: Botanica

Rodrigo Vargas-Gaete¹  Andreas Burger²  Jan R. Bannister³  Nicole Galindo³  Bastienne Schlegel⁴  Osvaldo J. Vidal⁵ 

[1] Departamento de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile;Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany;Instituto Forestal, Oficina Chiloé, Castro, Isla de Chiloé, Chile;Instituto Forestal, Sede Los Ríos, Fundo Teja Norte, Valdivia, Chile;Instituto de la Patagonia, Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile;

关键词: Chile;    forest management;    forest restoration;    herbivory;    southern pudu;   

DOI  :  10.4067/S0717-66432019000100024

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Few studies have focused on the actual extent and spatial patterns of browsing in relation to forest restoration, especially when browsing is done by deer with conservation status. Here, we present data from three forest restoration experiments located in priority forests for restoration in Chiloé Island in Chile. The aim of this study is to report evidence of browsing of the southern pudu (Pudu puda), a native and Near Threatened deer species. We visually assessed browsing for all individual seedlings and calculated the average browsing extent per plot and treatment. Since pudus as well as other deer species are known to preferably feed in open spaces, we hypothesized that Pilgerodendron uviferum planted seedlings will present higher browsing rates in places with lower shrub cover (bogs) and canopy cover (upland areas) (H1). In the case of degraded North-Patagonian forests we hypothesized that Nothofagus nitida planted seedlings will present higher browsing rates in places with higher %PPFD (Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density) and/or lower residual basal area (H2). Our results indicate that browsing ranged from 9.3% up to 84.0% depending on tree species and site condition. In burned forests, browsing was significantly higher (p < 0.01) when shrubs were removed (84.0% ± 9.9) than by retaining them (68.9% ± 11.6). In degraded old-growth forests, we found significantly higher browsing in places with higher degradation (p < 0.05). Furthermore, %PPFD was significantly correlated with browsing (rho: 0.535; p < 0.01). Based on our results, forest restoration efforts in Chiloé Island will face a great challenge in balancing the protection of Near Threatened wildlife and the restoration of tree species with conservation problems, especially in open/disturbed areas, where higher browsing was found.

【 授权许可】

Unknown