Cross-habitat foraging by sika deer influences plant community structure in a forest-grassland landscape.

摘要: We demonstrated the effect of cross-habitat foraging by sika deer (Cervus nippon) on plant communities under hypothesis that intensity herbivory a community is changed presence preferable habitat for nearby. To investigate this landscape-level effect, we examined two types forest understory; "adjacent site" was located near agricultural fields where prefer to forage, and "remote far from fields. compared structures between adjacent remote sites in areas with high densities, found species richness coverage were significantly higher than sites. hypothesized difference caused lower browsing at due use these The following four results supported hypothesis. First, no deer, did not differ Second, experimentally transplanting preferred species, Aucuba japonica. Third, detected number fecal pellets sites, indicating differences frequency site deer. Fourth, analysis showed consumed more graminoids, suggesting used forage because graminoids abundant All support notion understorys becomes This also implies importance indirect effects landscape level ecosystems are linked consumers moving them.