Moose–tree interactions: rebrowsing is common across tree species
Background Plant strategies to resist herbivory include tolerance and avoidance. Tolerance strategies, such as rapid regrowth which increases the palatability of new shoots, can lead to positive feedback loops between plants and herbivores. An example of such a positive feedback occurs when moose (A...
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fthshedmarkcom:oai:brage.bibsys.no:11250/2458303 2023-05-15T13:13:31+02:00 Moose–tree interactions: rebrowsing is common across tree species Mathisen, Karen Marie Milner, Jocelyn Margarey Skarpe, Christina 2017-04-25T15:19:54Z http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2458303 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12898-017-0122-3 eng eng https://bmcecol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12898-017-0122-3 Regionale forskningsfond Innlandet: 212525 17 BMC Ecology 12 Journal article Peer reviewed 2017 fthshedmarkcom https://doi.org/10.1186/s12898-017-0122-3 2017-10-27T17:31:44Z Background Plant strategies to resist herbivory include tolerance and avoidance. Tolerance strategies, such as rapid regrowth which increases the palatability of new shoots, can lead to positive feedback loops between plants and herbivores. An example of such a positive feedback occurs when moose (Alces alces) browse trees in boreal forests. We described the degree of change in tree morphology that accumulated over time in response to repeated browsing by moose, using an index of accumulated browsing. We evaluated whether accumulated browsing could predict the probability and extent of current browsing across woody species in a Norwegian boreal forest, and how our accumulated browsing index related to changes in tree height, shoot availability and shoot size. Results The probability and extent of current browsing increased with the degree of accumulated browsing in all tree species. Plants highly modified by previous browsing were the most attractive, with no indication of decreased preference with repeated browsing over time. The preference for previously browsed trees is most likely driven by increased relative availability of shoots within browsing height and maybe increased palatability. This response to previous browsing was general for both preferred and avoided forage species, in both conifers and deciduous trees. Conclusions Our results suggest that the adaptation for rapid regrowth after browsing does not reduce herbivory on trees. Rather, our results indicate that plant responses to browsing increase the probability of future herbivory. This response could potentially lead to higher plant mortality where cervid populations are maintained at stable high densities and has implications for plant population dynamics and forestry practices. publishedVersion Article in Journal/Newspaper Alces alces Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences: Brage INN BMC Ecology 17 1 |
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Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences: Brage INN |
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English |
description |
Background Plant strategies to resist herbivory include tolerance and avoidance. Tolerance strategies, such as rapid regrowth which increases the palatability of new shoots, can lead to positive feedback loops between plants and herbivores. An example of such a positive feedback occurs when moose (Alces alces) browse trees in boreal forests. We described the degree of change in tree morphology that accumulated over time in response to repeated browsing by moose, using an index of accumulated browsing. We evaluated whether accumulated browsing could predict the probability and extent of current browsing across woody species in a Norwegian boreal forest, and how our accumulated browsing index related to changes in tree height, shoot availability and shoot size. Results The probability and extent of current browsing increased with the degree of accumulated browsing in all tree species. Plants highly modified by previous browsing were the most attractive, with no indication of decreased preference with repeated browsing over time. The preference for previously browsed trees is most likely driven by increased relative availability of shoots within browsing height and maybe increased palatability. This response to previous browsing was general for both preferred and avoided forage species, in both conifers and deciduous trees. Conclusions Our results suggest that the adaptation for rapid regrowth after browsing does not reduce herbivory on trees. Rather, our results indicate that plant responses to browsing increase the probability of future herbivory. This response could potentially lead to higher plant mortality where cervid populations are maintained at stable high densities and has implications for plant population dynamics and forestry practices. publishedVersion |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Mathisen, Karen Marie Milner, Jocelyn Margarey Skarpe, Christina |
spellingShingle |
Mathisen, Karen Marie Milner, Jocelyn Margarey Skarpe, Christina Moose–tree interactions: rebrowsing is common across tree species |
author_facet |
Mathisen, Karen Marie Milner, Jocelyn Margarey Skarpe, Christina |
author_sort |
Mathisen, Karen Marie |
title |
Moose–tree interactions: rebrowsing is common across tree species |
title_short |
Moose–tree interactions: rebrowsing is common across tree species |
title_full |
Moose–tree interactions: rebrowsing is common across tree species |
title_fullStr |
Moose–tree interactions: rebrowsing is common across tree species |
title_full_unstemmed |
Moose–tree interactions: rebrowsing is common across tree species |
title_sort |
moose–tree interactions: rebrowsing is common across tree species |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2458303 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12898-017-0122-3 |
genre |
Alces alces |
genre_facet |
Alces alces |
op_source |
17 BMC Ecology 12 |
op_relation |
https://bmcecol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12898-017-0122-3 Regionale forskningsfond Innlandet: 212525 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12898-017-0122-3 |
container_title |
BMC Ecology |
container_volume |
17 |
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1 |
_version_ |
1766258864110436352 |