Deer Proliferation Disrupts a Forest's Natural Growth

Shaina Sikka
Mr. Mathieu
March 9, 2014
Author: Joe Schwartz
Published: March 8, 2014
Article URL: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140308095500.htm

Summary
Cornell researchers gathered soil cores below the surface from both within and outside of deer exclosures, or areas with no deers. Evidence shows that a growing deer population is altering the progression of a forest’s natural future by disrupting the soil’s natural seed banks. The researchers germinated the seeds they collected, and the soil cores found outside the exclosures contained a high number of seeds from non-native species. According to Cornell professor Anurag Agrawal, deers typically eat native, woody plants and keep out invasive species. However, the study showed that the consumption of native plants led to the flourishing of non-native ones, thus dropping more non-native seeds where the deer were present. This stalls the growth of a forest because it promotes the growth of thorny bushes and trees. In addition, the researchers found that the impacts of deer grazing resulted in bare soil and reduced plant biomass.

Connection
This article relates to our study on plants and ecology. In chapter 19, we learned that seed bearing plants evolved much later than Bryophytes and Pteridophytes. The native and non-native plants studied in this article are seed bearing plants. In addition, this connects to our study on ecology on the subject of competition, since the non-native or invasive species are out competing the native plants for their niche because the native plants are being eaten.