The Influence of Native Deer on Forest Fauna-A Systematic Map.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Wildlife Management
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Deer are abundant large herbivores and ecosystem engineers in Northern Hemisphere forests.
• Selective browsing by deer alters understory vegetation and tree composition.
• High deer densities can exacerbate forest faunal biodiversity loss.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize trends in existing literature on deer effects on faunal communities in forests.
• To identify research gaps in understanding deer as biotic drivers of forest ecosystems.
• To inform adapted deer management for forest biodiversity conservation.

Main Methods:

• Systematic map review of 64 studies assessing deer effects on faunal taxa.
• Analysis of reported effects of nine native deer species on forest fauna.
• Evaluation of literature for contextual data and methodological approaches.

Main Results:

• Nearly 400 effects of deer on forest fauna were reported across studies.
• Comprehensive synthesis is challenging due to missing data (e.g., deer density, predation).
• Existing studies often use linear models, oversimplifying complex deer-fauna interactions.

Conclusions:

• Current literature lacks sufficient standardized data for robust meta-analysis and management recommendations.
• Multi-level enclosure experiments are recommended for causal inference and comparative studies.
• Improved research methodologies will facilitate effective deer management for forest biodiversity.