Quantification of population sizes of large herbivores and their long‐term functional role in ecosystems using dung fungal spores

摘要: 1. The relationship between large herbivore numbers and landscape cover over time is poorly understood. There are two schools of thought: one views herbivores as relatively passive elements upon the other ecosystem engineers driving vegetation succession. latter has been used an argument to support reintroductions onto many landscapes in order increase heterogeneity biodiversity through local-scale disturbance regimes. Most research examining their impact on extant studies. An alternative approach estimate variations populations using fossil dung fungal spores pollen sedimentary sequences. However, date, there little quantification spore records numbers, leaving this method open varied interpretations. 2. In study, we developed further determined abundance sediments (number cm−2 year−1) biomass densities (kg ha−1). To establish relationship, following: (i) Sporormiella spp., Sordaria spp. Podospora modern from ponds (ii) weekly counts contemporary wildlife a period 5 years rewilded site, Oostvaardersplassen, Netherlands. 3. Results study demonstrate that highly significant local can be calibration records. Mammal density (comprising Konik horses, Heck cattle red deer) predicts way all amalgamated together. This apparent at very scale (<10 m), when characteristics sampled taken into account (surface area pond, length shoreline). addition, identify principally transported by surface run-off shores. 4. These results indicate provides robust quantitative measure population size time.