La Tour du Valat

Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes

Titre :	Effects of key deer herbivory on forest communities in the lower Florida Keys
Auteurs :	M. A. Barrett, Auteur ; P. Stiling, Auteur
Type de document :	Article
Dans :	Biological Conservation (129(1) APR 2006)
Article en page(s) :	100-108
Langues:	Anglais
Résumé :	Ungulate herbivory can have strong impacts on plant communities, but these impacts are rarely considered in recovery plans of endangered species. This study examined the effects of the endangered Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium) on its environment in the lower Florida Keys. The Key deer population has increased to over 700 deer from approximately 50 deer in the 1950s; however, approximately 75% of the population resides on only a few islands (Big Pine, No Name, Big Munson) where Key deer herbivory on forest communities may be substantial. Effects of deer herbivory on plant densities were estimated on these islands using vegetation quadrats in hardwood hammock, buttonwood transition, and mangrove wetlands and compared to nine other islands with intermediate or low deer densities. On islands with high deer density, densities of preferred woody plant species

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