Large herbivores in novel ecosystems - Habitat selection by red deer (Cervus elaphus) in a former brown-coal mining area

摘要: After centuries of range contraction, many megafauna species are recolonizing parts Europe. One example is the red deer (Cervus elaphus), which was able to expand its and now found in half areas it inhabited beginning 19th century. Herbivores important ecosystem engineers, influencing e.g. vegetation. Knowledge on their habitat selection influence ecosystems might be crucial for future landscape management, especially hybrid novel emerging post-industrial landscapes. In this study, studied a former brown-coal mining area Denmark. Here, natural settings were severely changed during activity current large managed by hunters as suitable habitat. We assessed preferences through feces presence camera traps combined with land cover data from vegetation sampling, remote sensing official geographic data. Red occurrence negatively associated human disturbance positively forage availability, tree mean terrain height. Apparently, capable industrial landscapes quite well if key conditions such abundance appropriate. absence carnivores, disturbance, hunting regime main reason why avoid certain areas. The resulting spatial heterogeneity showed use study tool preserve mosaic forest open habitats thus promote biodiversity abandoned