A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Vole damage to woody plants reflects cumulative rather than peak herbivory pressure
Authors: Gilbert S, Norrdahl K, Martel J, Klemola T
Publisher: FINNISH ZOOLOGICAL BOTANICAL PUBLISHING BOARD
Publication year: 2013
Journal: Annales Zoologici Fennici
Journal name in source: ANNALES ZOOLOGICI FENNICI
Journal acronym: ANN ZOOL FENN
Number in series: 4
Volume: 50
Issue: 4
First page : 189
Last page: 199
Number of pages: 11
ISSN: 0003-455X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5735/085.050.0402
Abstract
Vole grazing may be a step-function, with a critical threshold density, at which voles expand their preferred diet to lower quality forage (threshold herbivory hypothesis). Accordingly, we predicted that the establishment of unpalatable woody plants would be more strongly associated with peak herbivore abundances than with cumulative herbivory at lower numbers. We also investigated whether damage level is better explained by actual vole numbers or by numbers adjusted to the carrying capacity of the herbaceous vegetation. Our results did not support the threshold-density hypothesis. Cumulative herbivory explained the probability of sapling damage better than peak herbivory; sapling survival and growth were equally well explained by mean- and peak-vole abundances. Even at low abundances, herbivory was extended to all woody species; the damage level, however, varied according to the palatability of the woody species. Actual herbivore numbers explained sapling damage better than did abundance adjusted to carrying capacity.
Vole grazing may be a step-function, with a critical threshold density, at which voles expand their preferred diet to lower quality forage (threshold herbivory hypothesis). Accordingly, we predicted that the establishment of unpalatable woody plants would be more strongly associated with peak herbivore abundances than with cumulative herbivory at lower numbers. We also investigated whether damage level is better explained by actual vole numbers or by numbers adjusted to the carrying capacity of the herbaceous vegetation. Our results did not support the threshold-density hypothesis. Cumulative herbivory explained the probability of sapling damage better than peak herbivory; sapling survival and growth were equally well explained by mean- and peak-vole abundances. Even at low abundances, herbivory was extended to all woody species; the damage level, however, varied according to the palatability of the woody species. Actual herbivore numbers explained sapling damage better than did abundance adjusted to carrying capacity.
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