Article
Forestry
Lissette Cortes, Jaime Hernandez
Summary: The coastal zone of the Region of Maule in Chile, dominated by Monterey pine plantations, is managed using intensive silvicultural schemes, including clearcutting. However, Chile currently lacks explicit restrictions on clearcutting. This study analyzed forest area trends and identified the spatiotemporal scales of clearcutting clustering from 1999 to 2017. The results showed that clearcutting areas exhibited oscillatory behavior, with an average size of 46.8 km(2) and an active period of 2 years.
Article
Ecology
Flavia Freire Siqueira, Dulcineia de Carvalho, Jonathan Rhodes, Carla L. Archibald, Vanessa Leite Rezende, Eduardo van den Berg
Summary: The study investigated the role of Small Landscape Elements (SLEs) in landscape connectivity within the highly fragmented Atlantic Forest. It found that in these landscapes, the position of SLEs was more important than their respective areas for enhancing landscape connectivity.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Irena A. Koelemeijer, Ayco J. M. Tack, Beyene Zewdie, Sileshi Nemomissa, Kristoffer Hylander
Summary: This study identified drivers behind woody plant regeneration in coffee agroforestry, showing that local management intensity negatively impacted species richness, diversity, density, and height, while sites adjacent to continuous forests had higher species richness and diversity. Transfer limitation was detrimental for the regeneration of late successional species in agroforestry systems with reduced woody plant diversity.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Pamela Niederauer Pompeo, Luis Carlos Iunes Oliveira Filho, Douglas Alexandre, Ana Carolina Lovatel, Pedro Martins da Silva, Jose Paulo Sousa, Osmar Klauberg-Filho, Dilmar Baretta
Summary: Ground-dwelling beetles play a crucial role in ecosystem functioning, but their composition and traits are influenced by habitat fragmentation and land use changes. This study examined the community composition and relationships with environmental variables of ground-dwelling beetles in subtropical fragments of southern Brazil. The results showed that the composition of beetle communities varied among different land use systems, and environmental variables had some influence on the morphospecies composition.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Cristina Banks-Leite, Matthew G. Betts, Robert M. Ewers, C. David L. Orme, Alex L. Pigot
Summary: The main goal of landscape ecology is to understand the impact of habitat transformation on biodiversity. However, the discipline faces challenges due to the context dependency of observed spatial and temporal trends. This study discusses recent evidence suggesting that factors and processes at macroecological scales, such as historical disturbance rates, distance to geographic range edges, and climatic suitability, modulate populations' and species' responses to habitat change at the landscape scale.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Yawen Lu, Shilu Zheng, Kyle W. Tomlinson, Jiajia Liu
Summary: Plant herbivory and disease, which are essential for biodiversity and ecosystem function, are influenced by different processes and have different relationships in fragmented landscapes. We conducted a survey on 2,027 adult trees in 30 sites of 17 forest fragments in Xishuangbanna, China, and found that herbivory and disease were influenced by local and landscape environmental variables.
Article
Ecology
Adam Kimberley, Danny Hooftman, James M. Bullock, Olivier Honnay, Patricia Krickl, Jessica Lindgren, Jan Plue, Peter Poschlod, Anna Traveset, Sara A. O. Cousins
Summary: Increasing landscape connecting elements cannot compensate for large-scale grassland area loss, leading to significant declines in both structural and functional connectivity. Generalist species are negatively affected by connectivity, with structural connectivity having the strongest impact, while functional connectivity determines the presence of grassland specialist species in focal grasslands.
Article
Ecology
David Giralt, Javiera Pantoja, Manuel B. Morales, Juan Traba, Gerard Bota
Summary: Landscape modification and habitat fragmentation pose significant threats to biodiversity. In Europe, the spread of irrigation negatively impacts farmland birds, leading to a replacement of specialist species by generalist species.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Aino Hamalainen, Lenore Fahrig, Joachim Strengbom, Thomas Ranius
Summary: Habitat loss is a major threat to biodiversity, but the effects of habitat amount on species richness are not well understood. This study examined the effects of local and landscape-scale habitat amount on lichen species density in Swedish boreal forests. The amount of old forests within 5 km of the stands was found to be a better predictor of species density than other proxies of landscape habitat amount.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Dror Denneboom, Avi Bar-Massada, Assaf Shwartz
Summary: Through a systematic review, it was found that viaducts are the most effective type of WCS for large mammals. WCS built specifically for wildlife are used significantly more than those built for dual use by humans and wildlife. These results highlight the importance of adopting large-scale monitoring of wildlife crossing structures.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
N. Sweaney, D. B. Lindenmayer, D. A. Driscoll
Summary: The study found that butterflies exhibit avoidance behavior at the edges of plantations, with low perceptual range in these areas, leading them to quickly depart. Butterflies often cross from farmland into woodland and stay, but hardly any cross from woodland or plantations into farmland and stay. The distance butterflies move away from plantation edges in woodland is greater than in farmland, indicating that the edge-effects of one land-cover type depend on the animals' response to the alternative land-cover.
Article
Forestry
Julia Perez Cabral, Deborah Faria, Jose Carlos Morante-Filho
Summary: Biodiversity-friendly agricultural systems, such as cocoa agroforestry, play a crucial role in maintaining native species and providing habitats for various bird groups. The study found that landscapes with more forest cover and fewer cattle pastures support higher richness and abundance of frugivorous birds in cocoa agroforests, while an increase in cattle pasture negatively impacts all bird groups evaluated. Local vegetation structure, such as canopy closure and number of cocoa trees, also influences the abundance of insectivorous and non-forest bird species in cocoa agroforestry systems.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Shuai Ma, Liang-Jie Wang, Jiang Jiang, Yu-Guo Zhao
Summary: Agricultural expansion has caused significant loss of natural vegetation and landscape fragmentation, posing a serious threat to biodiversity. This study investigated the direct and indirect effects of agricultural expansion on natural habitats in Lishui city, China. The results showed that agricultural expansion led to a 6.08% decrease in natural habitats, with 43.84% of the impacts being direct and 56.16% being indirect. The indirect effects of agricultural expansion on natural habitats were approximately 32 times larger than the direct effects. Different landscape fragmentation processes had varying effects on natural habitats, and the agricultural land system balance policy was identified as the main driver of agricultural expansion and landscape fragmentation. Sustainable agricultural landscape management is essential to mitigate the impact of agricultural expansion on biodiversity.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Entomology
James A. Stilley, Christopher A. Gabler
Summary: Human land use has had negative impacts on wildlife by removing and fragmenting habitats, as well as introducing foreign species. The study in south Texas found that larger, less-fragmented habitats tended to have lower prevalence of foreign and weedy species, while areas with more human disturbance had a higher abundance of these species. It was also discovered that historic sets of native plants are rare and most areas are currently recovering from disturbances.
Article
Ecology
Fernando Cesar Goncalves Bonfim, Pavel Dodonov, Eliana Cazetta
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of landscape composition and configuration on taxonomic and functional diversity of frugivorous birds in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Results showed that landscape composition was more important than configuration in explaining diversity, highlighting the need to maintain high habitat amount for these birds.
Review
Entomology
Sofia Branco, Massimo Faccoli, Eckehard G. Brockerhoff, Geraldine Roux, Herve Jactel, Nicolas Desneux, Emmanuel Gachet, Raphaelle Mouttet, Jean-Claude Streito, Manuela Branco
Summary: Efforts have been made to prevent Asian longhorn beetles from causing harm to forest and urban trees, with over 45% of eradication programmes successful in the last 12 years. Despite the high costs of eradication programs, the benefits outweigh the costs. Eradication efforts for Anoplophora chinensis are more challenging compared to Anoplophora glabripennis.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Alex Stemmelen, Herve Jactel, Eckehard Brockerhoff, Bastien Castagneyrol
Summary: The study found a significant positive effect of forest tree diversity on natural enemy abundance and diversity, with a stronger impact towards lower latitudes. The research contributes to a better understanding of the natural enemies hypothesis in forest systems and provides insights into enhancing forest resistance to herbivorous insects.
BASIC AND APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jean-Yves Barnagaud, Eckehard G. Brockerhoff, Raphael Mossion, Paul Dufour, Sandrine Pavoine, Marc Deconchat, Luc Barbaro
Summary: Species introductions have significantly impacted the composition of bird assemblages in New Zealand, with native and alien species showing distinct habitat segregation driven by ecological traits and introduction history. Spatial partitioning of bird species between native and alien assemblages is mainly influenced by habitat type and availability of resources, rather than competitive exclusion.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Laura Nixon, William R. Morrison, Kevin B. Rice, Stephen Goldson, Eckehard G. Brockerhoff, Ashot Khrimian, Michael Rostas, Tracy C. Leskey
Summary: The study revealed that agitated individual brown marmorated stink bugs did not release defensive odors, but only groups of mechanically agitated bugs emitted human-detectable odors. Exposure to specific odor components induced the bugs to release defensive compounds, resulting in increased horizontal distance moved and velocity.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Laureline Rossignaud, Mark O. Kimberley, Dave Kelly, Songlin Fei, Eckehard G. Brockerhoff
Summary: This study explores the applicability of the biotic resistance hypothesis in forest ecosystems and finds that native trees play a crucial role in preventing invasions by exotic species. Competitive interactions are primarily important at small scales, while habitat heterogeneity plays a predominant role at larger scales.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Review
Entomology
Helen F. Nahrung, Andrew M. Liebhold, Eckehard G. Brockerhoff, Davide Rassati
Summary: The economic and environmental threats posed by non-native forest insects are increasing due to globalization. Despite decades of research and implementation of preventative measures, insect invasions continue to occur and are predicted to accelerate. The success of biosecurity measures is difficult to detect and quantify, while failures are evident in the continued establishment of new non-native species. Biosecurity should be a shared responsibility across countries, governments, stakeholders, and individuals.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kevin D. D. Chase, Dave Kelly, Andrew M. M. Liebhold, Eckehard G. G. Brockerhoff
Summary: This study evaluated the role of propagule pressure on colonization success, empirically tested for Allee effects, and estimated Allee thresholds using two species of bark beetles. The results generally support the theoretical literature on the role of propagule pressure and Allee effects in biological invasions.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Samuel F. Ward, Eckehard G. Brockerhoff, Rebecca M. Turner, Takehiko Yamanaka, Lorenzo Marini, Songlin Fei, Andrew M. Liebhold
Summary: The unintentional transport of insects beyond their native ranges has increased with globalization, leading to higher propagule pressure in non-native ranges. This study investigated the interceptions of European spruce bark beetle in the USA from 1914 to 2008 and found that interceptions were not related to outbreak levels in the native range, but were inversely related to annual import volume. The abundance of this beetle in invasion pathways has recently decreased, possibly due to strengthened phytosanitary protocols.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Ian R. McFadden, Agnieszka Sendek, Morgane Brosse, Peter M. Bach, Marco Baity-Jesi, Janine Bolliger, Kurt Bollmann, Eckehard G. Brockerhoff, Giulia Donati, Friederike Gebert, Shyamolina Ghosh, Hsi-Cheng Ho, Imran Khaliq, J. Jelle Lever, Ivana Logar, Helen Moor, Daniel Odermatt, Loiec Pellissier, Luiz Jardim de Queiroz, Christian Rixen, Nele Schuwirth, J. Ryan Shipley, Cornelia W. Twining, Yann Vitasse, Christoph Vorburger, Mark K. L. Wong, Niklaus E. Zimmermann, Ole Seehausen, Martin M. Gossner, Blake Matthews, Catherine H. Graham, Florian Altermatt, Anita Narwani
Summary: Human impacts such as habitat loss, climate change, and biological invasions are drastically changing biodiversity. We propose an integrative approach to explain the differences in impacts between terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems by linking them to four fundamental processes that structure communities. Through this approach, we aim to provide insights into why human impacts and responses to them may differ across ecosystem types, using a mechanistic, eco-evolutionary framework.
Article
Forestry
Marco Basile, Anton Kristin, Grzegorz Mikusinski, Simon Thorn, Michal Zmihorski, Gilberto Pasinelli, Eckehard G. Brockerhoff
Summary: Wildfires, wind storms, and pest outbreaks generate large amounts of deadwood in forests. Salvage logging, which removes deadwood following disturbance events, affects woodpeckers by reducing food availability and nest sites. A meta-analysis found that salvage logging significantly impacts woodpecker abundance and reproduction. Deadwood should be retained to conserve woodpeckers and forest biodiversity.
CURRENT FORESTRY REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Kenneth F. Raffa, Eckehard G. Brockerhoff, Jean-Claude Gregoire, Richard C. Hamelin, Andrew M. Liebhold, Alberto Santini, Robert C. Venette, Michael J. Wingfield
Summary: Nonnative insects and pathogens pose major threats to forest ecosystems worldwide. Several risk assessment approaches have been proposed to guide preventative measures, but their underlying assumptions have rarely been explicitly identified or critically evaluated. Evaluating the assumptions, usages, and limitations of each approach can help improve their combined utility.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Eckehard G. Brockerhoff, Belinda A. Gresham, Nicolas Meurisse, Helen F. Nahrung, Anouchka Perret-Gentil, Andrew R. Pugh, Stephanie L. Sopow, Rebecca M. Turner
Summary: This study provides a complete overview of all insect species recorded from Pinus radiata worldwide, with a total of 649 species identified. These species are distributed in both the native and introduced range of the tree and have caused varying degrees of damage, including 28 high-impact species. Additionally, it was found that most of these species originate from Europe, and there is potential for further invasions through border interceptions.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Sofia Branco, Jacob C. Douma, Eckehard G. Brockerhoff, Mireia Gomez-Gallego, Benoit Marcais, Simone Prospero, Jose Carlos Franco, Herve Jactel, Manuela Branco
Summary: This study analyzed the eradication programs against non-native pests and pathogens of woody plants in Europe from 1945 to date. The factors influencing the success of eradication programs were examined and guidelines for future eradication efforts were reinforced. A total of 848 eradication attempts were documented, with the number of programs and their success rate increasing sharply in the last two decades. The spatial extent of the outbreak and other variables such as the type of environment and species traits were found to significantly affect the outcome of eradication campaigns.
Article
Entomology
Andreas Sanchez, Yannick Chittaro, David Frey, Barbel Koch, Doris Holling, Eckehard G. Brockerhoff, Beat Ruffner, Milos Knizek
Summary: Identifying alien species is crucial for early detection of biological invasions and changes in species distributions. In this study, three alien bark and ambrosia beetles were newly reported in Switzerland. These species were found during a comprehensive survey of saproxylic beetles across different forest types and altitudes in the southern Alps. Their presence in various lowland forest habitats suggests that they are already established in the region. Given their broad diet, these species might have unknown environmental impacts and could potentially spread further in Switzerland.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Laureline Rossignaud, Dave Kelly, Eric B. Spurr, David J. Flaspohler, Robert B. Allen, Eckehard G. Brockerhoff
Summary: Many native bird species in New Zealand are threatened by introduced mammalian predators, and the effectiveness of pest management programs is often limited by resources. This study examined the long-term population trends of forest bird species and the changes in bird community structure in Craigieburn Forest Park, and found that the vulnerability of species to stoat predation and the consistency of pest control efforts influenced the long-term trends of bird populations.
AVIAN CONSERVATION AND ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Sadadi Ojoatre, Jos Barlow, Suzanne R. Jacobs, Mariana C. Rufino
Summary: This study evaluates the changes in a forest complex in Kenya and finds that within 20 years of disturbance, there is rapid recovery of aboveground biomass and carbon accumulation, and the species diversity remains high in these previously disturbed fragments.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Astor Torano Caicoya, Peter Biber, Miren del Rio, Ricardo Ruiz-Peinado, Catia Arcangeli, Robert Matthews, Hans Pretzsch
Summary: This study analyzed the effects of site and climate on the self-thinning line in Scots pine forests in Europe. The results showed that species tolerance, temperature, and precipitation influenced the slope of the self-thinning line. In terms of the intercept, latitude and radiation had compensating effects. Time did not show significant trends in the self-thinning line. The study highlights the need to adapt management strategies and models based on self-thinning to different latitudes. Climate change has not yet significantly impacted the self-thinning trajectory, but a continuous rise in temperature and high precipitation may accelerate the self-thinning process and result in increased biomass accumulation.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Haonan Zhang, Jianing Xu, Weiqi Meng, Zhonglin Li, Yanyan Ni, Weijie Li, Hao Chen, Xingshuo Zhang, Huanhuan Yuan, Zhi Wang
Summary: Secondary forests play a crucial role in ecosystem dynamics and biodiversity recovery. This study investigated the mechanisms underlying secondary succession in a restored secondary forest and found that deciduous tree species transition from diversity accumulators to repellents as they progress through different life history stages, while evergreen tree species can act as accumulators or remain neutral. The study also revealed the effects of density dependence on the mortality and regeneration of different tree species, and highlighted the importance of early-arriving tree species in facilitating the establishment and diversity of late-arriving counterparts.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Yierxiati Abulaiti, Zijian Huang, Guojiao Xie, Xiaojuan Zou, Qin Luo, Minhuang Wang, Qiong Yang, Ping Hu, Shixiao Yu
Summary: In this study, the resistance to pest infestation of native and exotic mangrove species was compared based on their traits and spectral reflectance. The results showed that exotic species exhibited higher resistance to pest infestation compared to native species.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Thomas Feiss, Vincent Robin, Delphine Aran, Joseph Levillain, Thierry Paul, Jean-Luc Dupouey
Summary: Fagus sylvatica L. is a competitive tree in European temperate deciduous forests, but often sporadic or absent in present-day stands where Quercus spp. are dominant. Through soil charcoal analysis in the Lorraine Plateau in France, the presence of Fagus and Quercus in mature Quercus stands was confirmed. Radiocarbon dating results indicated that historical forest management caused the replacement of Fagus by Quercus, starting from the Bronze Age.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Paula Halbig, Anne-Sophie Stelzer, Peter Baier, Josef Pennerstorfer, Horst Delb, Axel Schopf
Summary: The incidence of oak processionary moth in Central Europe has been increasing, posing severe threats to oak trees, humans, and animals. To address this issue, researchers have developed an online early warning system that provides phenological forecasts and decision support for the protection of oak trees and human health.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Jean-Baptiste Ndamiyehe Ncutirakiza, Sylvie Gourlet-Fleury, Philippe Lejeune, Xavier Bry, Catherine Trottier, Frederic Mortier, Adeline Fayolle, Francois Muhashy Habiyaremye, Leopold Ndjele Mianda-Bungi, Gauthier Ligot
Summary: This study examines the influence of canopy structure on tropical tree growth using data collected through unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and field measurements. The results show that combining UAV and field data can improve the prediction of tree diameter increment. Diameter at breast height and crown area are complementary predictors, and crown-based competition indices significantly enhance prediction models. The calibrated model at one site can accurately predict growth at another site.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Abebe Damtew, Emiru Birhane, Christian Messier, Alain Paquette, Bart Muys
Summary: Restoring degraded dryland requires a diverse mixture of trees and shrubs. Shading and species diversity can improve seedling survival and vitality. Shaded conditions led to higher seedling survival, vitality, and chlorophyll content, while increasing species richness improved seedling vitality in non-shaded conditions.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Francois Hebert, Isabelle Delisle, Marc Tremblay, Pascal Tremblay, Jean- Francois Boucher, Yan Boucher, Daniel Lord
Summary: Regeneration failures in the closed-crown boreal forest, resulting in the creation of open lichen woodlands, can be restored through clear-cutting, scarification, and natural seeding. Clear-cutting combined with scarification promotes seedling establishment, and scarification creates suitable microsites for germination. Seedling growth in lichen woodlands is higher when logging and scarification are combined, but lower compared to feather moss stands. Afforestation through natural seeding following scarification could be a cost-effective option for restoring lichen woodlands.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Bianca Wulansari Kassun, A. Maarit I. Kallio, Erik Tr Omborg, Meley Mekonen Rannestad
Summary: Mapping and analyzing forest ecosystem services in dry and mountain forests can provide valuable knowledge for sustainable forest management strategies.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Michael Premer, Eric Turnblom, Aaron Weiskittel
Summary: Managed forests serve as a natural climate change solution by sequestering carbon and storing it in harvested wood products, while also providing ecosystem services and wildlife habitat. This study focused on the stem sinuosity of juvenile coastal Douglas-fir and found that genetic improvement, silviculture practices, and local growing conditions can impact stem sinuosity. Factors such as tree spacing, vegetation control, and climate variables also affect the severity of stem sinuosity.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Bronwyn Lira Dyson, Rhea Herpel, Peter Karasch, Jorg Mueller, Dominik Thom, Claus Baessler
Summary: The study aimed to assess the effects of different forest management strategies, dead wood types, and microclimates on Fomes fomentarius. The results showed that the occupancy of Fomes fomentarius was lower in control stands, while the percent cover occupied on snags under a closed canopy was higher. Increasing the number of snags and maintaining dense forest canopies could enhance the presence of Fomes fomentarius as well as provide important microhabitats for various arthropods.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Di Liu, Chaofan Zhou, Xiao He, Xiangdong Lei, Huiru Zhang, Xianzhao Liu
Summary: Canopy structure plays a significant role in the distribution and growth of saplings. Traditional canopy metrics are inadequate in irregular stands. The innovative framework of canopy triangular units provides a comprehensive understanding of the canopy's three-dimensional attributes. Through this framework, we can analyze the differences in various triangular unit types and the spatial dispersion of saplings.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Amalia Valeria Ibanez Moro, Fabian Borghetti, Leonardo Galetto, Juan M. Cellini, Sandra J. Bravo
Summary: This study evaluated the size and persistence of soil seed banks (SSB) of six native woody species in dry subtropical forests of the western Argentine Chaco region. The results showed that SSB size was influenced by different sites and sampling years, and forest disturbances had varying effects on SSB.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Stephanie Landry, Marc-Andre Villard, Gaetan Pelletier, Martin-Hugues St-Laurent
Summary: In many regions of the world, excessive browsing by ungulates has reached unsustainable levels, threatening biodiversity and forest regeneration. Moose, as ecological engineers, have severe impacts on forest structure and composition through overbrowsing. The distribution of forage and cover patches affects moose browsing pressure, and this relationship has been explored in conifer-dominated stands but not in hardwood-dominated landscapes.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)