Complex interactions of deer herbivory, soil chemistry, and competing vegetation explain oak–hickory forest tree regeneration in central Pennsylvania, USA
The root causes of forest tree regeneration failure are difficult to resolve, although numerous studies show ungulate her-bivory, soil conditions, and competition from undesirable vegetation as likely contributors. To better understand the relativeimportance of each issue, we conducted a 7-year manipulative experiment to assess the interactive effects of white-tailed deer(Odocoileus virginianus) herbivory, soil acidity, and competing vegetation on tree regeneration in oak–hickory forests of centralPennsylvania, USA. Outcomes depended on initial tree seedling abundance, and all three factors had significant interactions.At low initial seedling abundance, fencing resulted in the greatest increase, but all treatments had a positive effect on seedlinggrowth and abundance. At higher initial seedling abundance, abundance failed to recover 7 years after herbicide treatmentand soil pH was an important predictor. When soil pH was >4.6 from lime application, seedling growth and abundance inunfenced controls with high initial abundance was comparable to the fenced-only treatment. Competing vegetation, assumedto be a symptom of excessive, long-term deer herbivory, does not seem to be the primary factor limiting tree regeneration inour study area. Ameliorating acid deposition warrants greater consideration as a management action because it could providelong-lasting benefits compared to short-term fence installations.
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| Work Title | Complex interactions of deer herbivory, soil chemistry, and competing vegetation explain oak–hickory forest tree regeneration in central Pennsylvania, USA |
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| License | In Copyright (Rights Reserved) |
| Work Type | Article |
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| Publication Date | October 15, 2024 |
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| Deposited | April 05, 2025 |
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