The increase in the number of deer, threatening the future of forests

From the study of the underlying soil in the forest areas of many deer, the Cornell University researchers (USA) concluded that the increase in the number of these animals is hindering. Natural growth rate of the forest.

The above conclusion is published in a new study of the group, published in the journal PloS ONE published in early March 2014.

The increase in the number of deer threatens the future of forests (Image Source: Smscs.com)

According to the study co-author Anurag Agrawal, 'deer populations are slowing the natural replacement process of the forest by disturbing the environment in the soil and destroying seed' banks'. nature of the soil '.

In particular, deer prefer to eat native woody plants instead of invasive species. This has created conditions for alien species to flourish, while indigenous species are increasingly declining.

Normally, in the process of mature forest, weeds will make room for herbs and shrubs, and eventually new plants gradually take root. But in fact, when the deer populations in the northeastern United States are increasing, the development of the forest has been slowed down, with only the thorns, hydrangea and easy walls grow up. Conversely, when deer leave the forests, plants such as cotton, tricot or paint will have the opportunity to germinate and multiply.

The research team said that the nibbling behavior of young deer and deer can cause serious impacts, leading to the situation of vacant land, bare forest, plant biomass of forests, reducing the density of species. woody trees are thinner and the number of native species is getting less and less.

However, Antonio DiTommaso, a member of the research team, admitted: 'the above effects are just the tip of an iceberg, and many other negative effects lie beneath the surface soil. There, we hardly see the seeds of woody plants, instead only see the seeds of invasive species. '