Wild boar rooting intensity determines shifts in understorey composition and functional traits

摘要: In recent decades, the European populations of wild boar have grown substantially, as has impact this species, owing above all to its rooting activity. Our aim was investigate relationships between vascular plant understorey and intensity. The questions we addressed are: does intensity influence species composition diversity? Which functional traits are associated with different levels rooting? We performed a comparative analysis communities in areas contrasting within Mediterranean deciduous lowland forest central Italy. Besides comparing diversity, tested association through fourth-corner analysis. found that were evenness, while observed no significant difference richness. contrast our expectations, sites lower returned i) evenness values ii) higher proportion characterized by related resistance or response herbivory, i.e., spinescence, clonality, endozoochory, underground storage organs, low height values. findings suggest current vegetation patterns partly depend on legacy effect past disturbance, since currently subjected likely be intensely rooted past. These may developed marked dominance clonal thorny that, turn, inhibited further feeding activities boar.