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Herbivory and plant competition reduce mountain beech seedling growth and establishment in New Zealand

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Abstract

The effect of herbivory and resource availability on the competitive ability of different plant species has been an area of intense debate amongst plant ecologists for at least two decades, but the interactive effects of herbivory and plant competition between woody and herbaceous plants are rarely studied and theory is poorly developed. This study used experimental manipulations on transplanted and naturally occurring mountain beech (Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides) seedlings to show the effects of deer browsing and competition from deer-induced, herbaceous turf communities on mountain beech regeneration in New Zealand. Differences in the species composition of these turfs had little effect on mountain beech seedling establishment, but turf removal increased seedling growth and survivorship, showing that competition with other plants had direct effects on mountain beech regeneration. Deer browsing reduced the establishment and growth of seedlings, but the size of this effect did not vary with light and nutrient availability. There was no immediate compositional response of turf communities following the removal of deer browsing. The addition of nutrients appeared to reduce the intensity of belowground competition (stem growth increased relative to root growth) and increase seedling mortality, but there was no effect of changing levels of light. These results showed simple and direct negative effects of deer browsing on mountain beech regeneration. Indirect negative effects on regeneration were caused by deer-induced turf communities. We found little evidence for interactive effects between herbivory, plant competition and the availability of light or nutrients on seedling regeneration, which suggests that these factors acted independently.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the numerous fieldworkers who have helped with data collection and processing, particularly Lotta Risberg, Sofia Lund, Annelies Pronker, Brent Tandy, Anna Lagerström, Kelly Ward, Dan Smale, Adam Robertson, Troy Duncan, Tilly Baker, Andre Koppe, Iciar Alberdi, Daisy Dent, Jenny Hurst, Emma Cardno, Tia Lähteenmäki, Colin Taylor and Steve Deverell. Lotta Risberg diligently analysed hemispherical photographs. Barbara Polly and John Braggins assisted with bryophyte identification. Angela Taylor weighed seedlings and Ian Henderson provided valuable advice on analysis. Comments from Helen Oleary, Angela Moles and anonymous reviewers substantially improved the manuscript, for which we are indebted. The New Zealand Department of Conservation Science and Research Unit supported this paper (investigation 2493).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecology Group, Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Sean W. Husheer & Alastair W. Robertson

  2. Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, United Kingdom

    David A. Coomes

  3. Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Chris M. Frampton

  4. New Zealand Forest Surveys, 15 McElwee Street, Jervoistown, Napier, New Zealand

    Sean W. Husheer

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  1. Sean W. Husheer
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  2. Alastair W. Robertson
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Correspondence to Sean W. Husheer.

Additional information

Nomenclature: Beever et al. (1992); Parsons et al. (1995); Edgar and Connor (2000); and Brownsey and Smith-Dodsworth (2000). Raukaua simplex is described by Mitchell et al. (1997). Coprosma “taylorae” is referred to by Eagle (1986) and Halocarpus biformis, Phyllocladus alpinus, Podocarpus hallii and Podocarpus nivalis by Wilson and Galloway (1993).

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Husheer, S.W., Robertson, A.W., Coomes, D.A. et al. Herbivory and plant competition reduce mountain beech seedling growth and establishment in New Zealand. Plant Ecol 183, 245–256 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-005-9036-9

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