The Influence of Wild Ungulates on Forest Regeneration in an Alpine National Park
The browsing of wild ungulates can have profound effects on the structure and composition of forests. In the Swiss National Park, the density of wild ungulates, including red deer (<i>Cervus elaphus</i>), ibex (<i>Capra ibex</i>), and chamois (<i>Rupicapra rupicapra<...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/6/1272 |
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| author | Jeannine Fluri Pia Anderwald Fränzi Korner-Nievergelt Sonja Wipf Valentin Amrhein |
| author_facet | Jeannine Fluri Pia Anderwald Fränzi Korner-Nievergelt Sonja Wipf Valentin Amrhein |
| author_sort | Jeannine Fluri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The browsing of wild ungulates can have profound effects on the structure and composition of forests. In the Swiss National Park, the density of wild ungulates, including red deer (<i>Cervus elaphus</i>), ibex (<i>Capra ibex</i>), and chamois (<i>Rupicapra rupicapra</i>), is exceptionally high due to strict protection and the absence of large predators. We examined count data of larch (<i>Larix decidua</i>), cembra pine (<i>Pinus cembra</i>), spruce (<i>Picea abies</i>), upright mountain pine (<i>Pinus mugo</i> subsp. <i>uncinata</i>), and mountain ash (<i>Sorbus aucuparia</i>) of four sampling years between 1991 and 2021, and modelled how topographic and location factors affected the probability of browsing on saplings of larch, cembra pine, and spruce. Despite the high density of wild ungulates, the number of saplings and young trees has increased over the past 30 years. The probability of browsing on saplings was highest for larch at a height of 10–40 cm and increased with increasing elevation. In our study area, open grasslands are mainly located above the tree line, which might explain the positive correlation between elevation and the probability of browsing. Further, the probability of browsing was related to exposition and slope, diversity of tree species, and disturbance by humans. It appears that in the investigated part of the Swiss National Park, the potential of the forest to regenerate has increased despite the high densities of wild ungulates. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:27:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3c0a732ca67d44ce9798af90310252a8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:27:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-3c0a732ca67d44ce9798af90310252a82023-11-18T10:28:44ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072023-06-01146127210.3390/f14061272The Influence of Wild Ungulates on Forest Regeneration in an Alpine National ParkJeannine Fluri0Pia Anderwald1Fränzi Korner-Nievergelt2Sonja Wipf3Valentin Amrhein4Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, CH-4051 Basel, SwitzerlandDepartment of Research and Monitoring, Swiss National Park, CH-7530 Zernez, Switzerlandoikostat GmbH, CH-6218 Ettiswil, SwitzerlandDepartment of Research and Monitoring, Swiss National Park, CH-7530 Zernez, SwitzerlandDepartment of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, CH-4051 Basel, SwitzerlandThe browsing of wild ungulates can have profound effects on the structure and composition of forests. In the Swiss National Park, the density of wild ungulates, including red deer (<i>Cervus elaphus</i>), ibex (<i>Capra ibex</i>), and chamois (<i>Rupicapra rupicapra</i>), is exceptionally high due to strict protection and the absence of large predators. We examined count data of larch (<i>Larix decidua</i>), cembra pine (<i>Pinus cembra</i>), spruce (<i>Picea abies</i>), upright mountain pine (<i>Pinus mugo</i> subsp. <i>uncinata</i>), and mountain ash (<i>Sorbus aucuparia</i>) of four sampling years between 1991 and 2021, and modelled how topographic and location factors affected the probability of browsing on saplings of larch, cembra pine, and spruce. Despite the high density of wild ungulates, the number of saplings and young trees has increased over the past 30 years. The probability of browsing on saplings was highest for larch at a height of 10–40 cm and increased with increasing elevation. In our study area, open grasslands are mainly located above the tree line, which might explain the positive correlation between elevation and the probability of browsing. Further, the probability of browsing was related to exposition and slope, diversity of tree species, and disturbance by humans. It appears that in the investigated part of the Swiss National Park, the potential of the forest to regenerate has increased despite the high densities of wild ungulates.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/6/1272browsingalpine forestelevationtree rejuvenationungulate managementprotected area |
| spellingShingle | Jeannine Fluri Pia Anderwald Fränzi Korner-Nievergelt Sonja Wipf Valentin Amrhein The Influence of Wild Ungulates on Forest Regeneration in an Alpine National Park Forests browsing alpine forest elevation tree rejuvenation ungulate management protected area |
| title | The Influence of Wild Ungulates on Forest Regeneration in an Alpine National Park |
| title_full | The Influence of Wild Ungulates on Forest Regeneration in an Alpine National Park |
| title_fullStr | The Influence of Wild Ungulates on Forest Regeneration in an Alpine National Park |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Influence of Wild Ungulates on Forest Regeneration in an Alpine National Park |
| title_short | The Influence of Wild Ungulates on Forest Regeneration in an Alpine National Park |
| title_sort | influence of wild ungulates on forest regeneration in an alpine national park |
| topic | browsing alpine forest elevation tree rejuvenation ungulate management protected area |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/6/1272 |
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