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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
10:20
Linking Predation Risk, Herbivore Physiological Stress and Microbial Decomposition of Plant Litter
Published on: March 12, 2013
Deer browsing and soil disturbance induce cascading effects on plant communities: a multilevel path analysis
Julien Beguin1, David Pothier, Steeve D Côté
1Centre d'Etude de la Forêt, Département des Sciences du Bois et de la Forêt, Pavilion Abitibi-Price, 2405 Rue de la Terrasse, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V0A6 Canada. julien.beguin.1@ulaval.ca
Summary
Large herbivores like deer impact boreal forest plant diversity. Their browsing and soil disturbance create cascading effects, favoring certain plant groups that ultimately increase overall herb richness.
Area of Science:
- Community ecology
- Plant ecology
- Forestry
Background:
- Large herbivore populations are expanding in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Herbivore foraging can influence plant community structure through direct and indirect interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how deer browsing and soil disturbance affect herbaceous plant diversity in boreal forests.
- To evaluate direct and indirect effects of these factors on plant species richness.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test initial effects.
- Multilevel path analysis to assess direct and indirect interactions.
- Field study in boreal forest ecosystems.
Main Results:
- Deer browsing and soil disturbance significantly influenced herbaceous plant richness.
- These factors exerted influence through complex interactions involving dominant browsing-tolerant (DBT) taxa and white birch (Betula papyrifera).
- Increased abundance of DBT taxa (graminoids, Cirsium arvense) was positively correlated with herb layer richness.
Conclusions:
- White birch abundance did not directly decrease herb richness.
- Competitive interactions between white birch and DBT taxa mediate the relationship between DBT taxa and herb richness.
- Deer browsing and soil disturbance initiate cascading effects by regulating white birch abundance in boreal plant communities.
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