Green infrastructure maintenance is more than land cover: Large herbivores limit recruitment of key-stone tree species in Sweden

摘要: Abstract Due to anthropogenic alteration of stand composition and landscape pattern in Swedish forest landscapes managed for industrial wood production, remnant patches deciduous forests woodlands do not form a functional green infrastructure biodiversity conservation. We assessed if large herbivore browsing hampers the restoration as by reducing recruitment boreal temperate tree species particular importance A natural experiment approach was applied distinct temperate-boreal gradient Sweden. measured potential saplings aspen, rowan, sallow oak become recruited into population ecologically mature trees, well amount field layer food. Sampling made stands representing four strata accessible herbivores (experiment) human settlements avoided (control). All focal had lower damage levels controls (towns villages) compared experimental (forest) sites. While forage much more abundant controls, different from stands. For all except aspen we found positive relationship between abundance, which moose contributed >89%. discuss role research design assessing impact on plants, highlight need integration multi-species wildlife management conservation planning management.