Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of Roe Deer on the State of Undergrowth in Oak Groves at the Karadag Nature Reserve

  • Published:
Contemporary Problems of Ecology Aims and scope

Abstract

This paper presents data on the state of stands and undergrowth of the main forest-forming species at the Karadag Nature Reserve in oak forests of downy oak (Quercus pubescens) and sessile oak (Q. petraea) under the conditions of an excessive density of the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). By 2016, the exponential growth in the number of roe deer in the reserve, which has been observed since its establishment in 1979, led to an increase in its number to 750 individuals and density of up to 437 individuals per 1000 ha, which is 10 times higher than the norm. At the same time, the level of damaged undergrowth increased from 7.6 to 88.9% in sessile oak and from 8.4 to 83.7% in downy oak. This has resulted in a decrease to an absolute minimum in the numbers of the medium and the complete absence of large undergrowth in both sessile oak and downy oak. The alignment of tree species in abundance (estimated by the Berger–Parker index) is 1.2 for sessile oak stands and 1.18 for downy oak stands; the undergrowth is 3 and 1.6, respectively. At the Primorskoe Forestry located next to the reserve, which exhibits a relatively satisfactory density of roe deer (37 individuals per 1000 ha), damage to the undergrowth of the main species was 5.5% in sessile oak groves and 7.2% in downy oak groves. In the Primorskoe Forestry oak forests, alignment of tree species in abundance is 1.25 for sessile oak and 1.54 for downy oak and 2.15 and 2.11 for their undergrowth, respectively. Based on cumulative data, it is concluded that even providing the conditions of a super-high density of ungulates, oak forests of the Karadag Reserve retain the ability to regenerate through an increase in the density of small undergrowth (sessile oak groves) and alignment of the undergrowth species (downy oak groves). The role of the overabundance of roe deer in the reserve is negative in relation to the reproduction of the main species and positive in regards to biodiversity in terms of the alignment of tree species of the undergrowth in abundance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Abaturov, V.G., On the functional role of wild vertebrates in biogeocenoses of natural territories, in Strukturno-funktsional’naya organizatsiya biogeotsenozov (Structural and Functional Organization of Biogeocenoses), Moscow: Nauka, 1980, pp. 250–269.

  2. Antonets, N.V. and Yarysh, V.L., Environment-forming activity of wild ungulates of the Karadag nature reserve, in 100 let Karadagskoi nauchnoi stantsii im. T. I. Vyazemskogo (100 years of the Karadag scientific station named after T. I. Vyazemsky), Gaevskaya, A.V. and Morozova, A.L., Eds., Simferopol: N. Orianda, 2015, pp. 361–371.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Augustine, D. and McNaughton, S., Ungulate effects on the functional species composition of plant communities: Herbivore selectivity and plant tolerance, J. Wildl. Manage., 1998, vol. 62, pp. 1165–1183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Bukhovets, G.M. and Luk’yanets, V.B., The current state of natural regeneration of oak forests of the Khopersky reserve, in Dubravy Khoperskogo zapovednika (Oakeries of the Khopersky Reserve), Voronezh, 1976, part 2, pp. 55–66.

  5. Chervonnyi, V.V., The current state of the winter food supply for ungulates-dendrophages in the Belgorod region, Nauchn. Vedomosti Belgorod. Gos. Univ., Ser. Estestv. Nauki, 2013, no. 10, no. 23, pp. 92–98.

  6. Côté, S., Rooney, T., Tremblay, J., Dussault, C., and Waller, D., Ecological impacts of deer overabundance, Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst., 2004, vol. 35, pp. 113–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Coughenour, M., Graminoid responses to grazing by large herbivores: Adaptations, exaptations, and interacting processes, Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard., 1985, vol. 72, pp. 852–863.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Gaponov, V.V., Optimization of the ungulate population in the forests of the south of the Far East, Probl. Reg. Ekol., 2010, no. 1, pp. 223–229.

  9. Genries, A., Morin, X., Chauchard, S., and Carcaillet, C., The function of surface fires in the dynamics and structure of a formerly grazed old subalpine forest, J. Ecol., 2009, vol. 97, no. 4, pp. 728–741.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Goetsch, C., Wigg, J., Royo, A., Ristau, T., and Carson, W., Chronic over browsing and biodiversity collapse in a forest understory in Pennsylvania: Results from a 60 year-old deer exclusion plot, J. Torrey Bot. Soc., 2011, vol. 138, no. 2, pp. 220–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Gusev, A.A., Permissible density of wild ungulates and the experience of its maintenance in the Central Black Sea reserve, in Populyatsionnye issledovaniya zhivotnykh v zapovednikakh (Population Studies of Animals in Reserves), Moscow: Nauka, 1988, pp. 114–128.

  12. Hayes, F.A., Growing deer herds posing major problem, S. C. Wildl., 1964, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 41–47.

    Google Scholar 

  13. HilleRisLambers, J., Adler, P., Harpole, W., Levine, J., and Mayfield, M., Rethinking community assembly through the lens of coexistence theory, Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst., 2012, vol. 43, pp. 227–248. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-110411-160411

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Horsley, S., Stout, S., and DeCalesta, D., White-tailed deer impact on the vegetation dynamics of a Northern Hardwood forest, Ecol. Appl., 2003, vol. 13, pp. 98–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Ivanov, S.P., Parshintsev, A.V., Evstaf’ev, I.L., Tovpinets, N.N., and Yarysh, V.L., The problem of excess of wild ungulates in protected areas, Karadag. Istoriya, geologiya, botanika, zoologiya (Sbornik nauchnykh trudov, posvyashchennyi 90-letiyu Karadagskoi nauchnoi stantsii im. T. I. Vyazemskogo i 25-letiyu Karadagskogo prirodnogo zapovednika) (Karadag. History, Geology, Botany, and Zoology (Collection of Scientific Papers Dedicated to the 90th Anniversary of T.I. Vyazemsky Karadag Scientific Station and the 25th Anniversary of the Karadag Nature Reserve), Morozova, A.L. and Gnyubkin, V.F., Eds., Simferopol: SONAT, 2004, book 1, pp. 446–463.

  16. Keddy, P., Assembly and response rules: Two goals for predictive community ecology, J. Veg. Sci., 1992, vol. 3, pp. 157–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Krasnitskii, A.M., Problemy zapovednogo dela (Problems of Nature Reserve Management), Moscow: Lesn. Prom-st., 1983.

  18. Lebedeva, N.V. and Krivolutskii, D.A., Biological diversity and methods of its assessment, in Geografiya i monitoring bioraznoobraziya (Geography and Biodiversity Monitoring), Kasimov, N.S., Romanova, E.P., and Tishkov, A.A., Eds., Moscow: Nauchn. Uchebno-Metod. Tsentra, 2002, pp. 8–76.

  19. Martin, J., Stockton, S., Allombert, S., and Gaston, A., Top-down and bottom-up consequences of unchecked ungulate browsing on plant and animal diversity in temperate forests: Lessons from a deer introduction, Biol. Invasions, 2010, vol. 12, pp. 353–371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Mishnev, V.G., Nature reserves and the principle of rigid reservation of territories, Bot. Zh., 1984, vol. 69, no. 8, pp. 1106–1113.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Mishnev, V.G., Reserves as reserves of biodiversity (?), in Zapovedniki Kryma. Bioraznoobrazie na prioritetnykh territoriyakh: 5 let posle Gurzufa (Reserves of the Crimea. Biodiversity in Priority Areas: Five Years after Gurzuf), Simferopol, 2002, pp. 166–169.

  22. Nastanova z uporyadkuvannya mislivs’kikh ugid’ (Guidelines for the Regulation of Hunting Grounds), Kyiv: Derzh. Kom. Lis. Gospod. Ukr., 2002.

  23. Oldén, A., Raatikainen, K., Tervonen, K., and Halme, P., Grazing and soil pH are biodiversity drivers of vascular plants and ryophytes in boreal woodpastures, Agric. Ecosyst. Environ., 2016, vol. 222, pp. 171–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Osem, Y., Fogel, T., Moshe, Y., and Brant, S., Managing cattle grazing and overstorey cover for the conversion of pine monocultures into mixed Mediterranean woodlands, Appl. Veg. Sci., 2015, vol. 18, pp. 261–271. https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.12152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Ouen, O.S., Okhrana prirodnykh resursov (Protection of Natural Resources), Moscow: Kolos, 1977.

  26. Proekt organizatsii i rozvitku lisovogo gospodarstva Sudats’kogo derzhavnogo lisomislivs’kogo gospodarstva Respublikans’kogo komitetu po lisovomu i mislivs’komu gospodarstvu AR Krim (Project of Organization and Development of Forestry of the Sudak State Forestry of the Republican Committee on Forestry and Hunting of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea), Irpin, 2000.

  27. Proekt organizatsii ta rozvitku lisovogo gospodarstva Derzhavnogo pidpriemstva “Sudats’ke lisomislivs’ke gospodarstvo” Respublikans’kogo komitetu ARK z lisovogo i mislivs’kogo gospodarstva (Project of Organization and Development of Forestry of the State Enterprise “Sudak Forestry” of the Republican Committee of the ARC on Forestry and Hunting), Irpin, 2013.

  28. Proekt organizatsii teritorii ta okhoroni prirodnikh kompleksiv Karadaz’kogo prirodnogo zapovidnika NAN Ukraini (Project of Organization of Territory and Protection of Natural Complexes of Karadag Nature Reserve of NAS of Ukraine), Irpin, 2005.

  29. Ramad, F., Osnovy prikladnoi ekologii (Fundamentals of Applied Ecology), Leningrad: Gidrometeoizdat, 1981.

  30. Rooney, T.P., Deer impacts on forest ecosystems: A North American perspective, Forestry, 2001, vol. 74, pp. 201–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Rooney, T. and Waller, D., Direct and indirect effects of white-tailed deer in forest ecosystems, For. Ecol. Manage., 2003, vol. 181, pp. 165–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(03)00130-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Royo, A.A., Collins, R., Adams, M.B., Kirschbaum, C., and Carson, W.P., Pervasive interactions between ungulate browsers and disturbance regimes promote temperate forest herbaceous diversity, Ecology, 2010, vol. 91, no. 1, pp. 93–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Shadura, M.V., Gulik, I.T., and Shadura, A.M., Damage of forest crops caused by wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) In Polissya of Ukraine, Nauk. Visn., 2004, no. 14.8, pp. 426–433.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Suzuki, M., Miyashita, T., Kabaya, K., Ochiai, K., Asada, M., and Kikvidze, Z., Deer herbivory as an important driver of divergence of ground vegetation communities in temperate forests, Oikos, 2013, vol. 122, pp. 104–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Trefethen, J.B., Kaibab told bitter but needed lesson, S. C. Wildl., 1968, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 56–64.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Yarysh, V.L. and Ivanov, S.P., Ungulate population dynamics in the Karadag nature reserve, in 100 let Karadagskoi nauchnoi stantsii im. T.I. Vyazemskogo (100 Years of T.I. Vyazemsky Karadag Scientific Station), Gaevskaya, A.V. and Morozova, A.L., Eds., Simferopol: N. Orianda, 2015, pp. 372–384.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Yarysh, V.L. and Ivanov, S.P., Phenomenon of high density of ungulates in the Karadag nature reserve in the Crimea. Communication I. Features of population counting and interpretation of data, Uch. Zap. Krym. Fed. Univ. im. V.I. Vernadskogo, Biol., Khim., 2017a, vol. 3, no. 69, no. 4, pp. 232–248.

  38. Yarysh, V.L. and Ivanov, S.P., Phenomenon of high density of ungulates in the Karadag nature reserve in the Crimea. Communication II. Long-term dynamics of the population, Uch. Zap. Krym. Fed. Univ. im. V.I. Vernadskogo, Biol., Khim., 2017b, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 253–267.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Yarysh, V.L., Ivanov, S.P., and Antonets, N.V., Influence of European roe deer on reforestation in plantations of the Karadag nature reserve, Ekosistemy, 2018, no. 16, pp. 116–129.

Download references

FUNDING

This work was carried out as part of the State Task for Karadag Scientific Station, Nature Reserve, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas Branch, project no. 121032300023-7.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vyasemsky Karadag Scientific Station, Nature Reserve, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kurortnoe, Feodosia, 298188, Republic of Crimea, Russia

    V. L. Yarysh

  2. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Simferopol, Republic of Crimea, 295007, Russia

    S. P. Ivanov

Authors
  1. V. L. Yarysh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. P. Ivanov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to V. L. Yarysh or S. P. Ivanov.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interests. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Statement on the welfare of animals. This article does not contain any studies involving animals performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

Translated by E. Kuznetsova

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yarysh, V.L., Ivanov, S.P. Influence of Roe Deer on the State of Undergrowth in Oak Groves at the Karadag Nature Reserve. Contemp. Probl. Ecol. 14, 538–549 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1995425521050176

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1995425521050176

Keywords:

Search

Navigation