Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Browsing and grazing by ungulates affect the forest structure by altering species composition and
affect the growth in individual trees. The purpose with this study is to investigate the ungulate
species composition visiting the clear cut, how timing of browsing affects the height increment in
deciduous and conifer saplings, and how deer grazing affects the field layer coverage and height. I
used seasonal exclosures in ten clear-cuts where I took data on deer visitation using camera traps,
field layer vegetation coverage and height, and also height and browsing pressure on individual
saplings. Each site had one permanent exclosure, one exclosure which was closed in winter but
open in summer, one exclosure which was open in winter but closed in summer and one control plot
which was never fenced off. The majority of the ungulates were fallow deer which shoved a higher
visitation rate during summer than winter. Permanent exclosures and exclosure which were closed
in summer had the highest height increment for deciduous trees. The difference in field vegetation
height between 2015 and 2016 showed an effect of deer visitation rate per site but not for treatment.
Browsing during summer lowered the height increment in deciduous saplings compared to winter
browsing. It’s too early in this experiment to make conclusions on conifers but it seems that the
timing is not as important factor as it is for deciduous saplings regarding to height development.