Deer browsing alters understorey, nutrient cycling, and soil properties in temperate oak woodland
Abstract
Background: Large herbivores influence nutrient cycling and litter decomposition through several pathways and primarily through selective browsing. However, empirical results vary widely, and the lack of studies on temperate ecosystems further highlights the need for context-specific research. Objectives: This study evaluates how contrasting deer densities influence understorey vegetation, nutrient inputs, litter decomposition, and soil properties in a temperate oak woodland. Methods and Results: We compared fenced plots (with high deer density) to unfenced plots (with low deer density). Our findings indicate that deer slightly increased plant richness, but reduced understorey litter biomass by 33% with reductions of up to 85% for Rubus fruticosus. Nutrient return decreased by 40%, particularly for nitrogen, phosphorus, and magnesium. Additionally, deer slowed litter decomposition rates by 10% in fine-mesh litter-bags. Soil analyses revealed a thinner organic layer, lower pH, and reduced cation exchange capacity in high-density area. Discussion: These results demonstrate that deer have complex, context-dependent effects on forest nutrient cycling and decomposition processes. This highlight the importance to considering a broader range of nutrients and various forest sites in future research.
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BibTeX
@misc{korboulewsky2026deer,
title = {{Deer browsing alters understorey, nutrient cycling, and soil properties in temperate oak woodland}},
author = {Nathalie Korboulewsky and Joel Merlet and Hélène Verheyden and Denis Picot and Anders Mårell},
howpublished = {HAL},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
url = {https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05741312v2},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Deer browsing alters understorey, nutrient cycling, and soil properties in temperate oak woodland
AU - Nathalie Korboulewsky
AU - Joel Merlet
AU - Hélène Verheyden
AU - Denis Picot
AU - Anders Mårell
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/07
PB - HAL
UR - https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05741312v2
AB - Background: Large herbivores influence nutrient cycling and litter decomposition through several pathways and primarily through selective browsing. However, empirical results vary widely, and the lack of studies on temperate ecosystems further highlights the need for context-specific research. Objectives: This study evaluates how contrasting deer densities influence understorey vegetation, nutrient inputs, litter decomposition, and soil properties in a temperate oak woodland. Methods and Results: We compared fenced plots (with high deer density) to unfenced plots (with low deer density). Our findings indicate that deer slightly increased plant richness, but reduced understorey litter biomass by 33% with reductions of up to 85% for Rubus fruticosus. Nutrient return decreased by 40%, particularly for nitrogen, phosphorus, and magnesium. Additionally, deer slowed litter decomposition rates by 10% in fine-mesh litter-bags. Soil analyses revealed a thinner organic layer, lower pH, and reduced cation exchange capacity in high-density area. Discussion: These results demonstrate that deer have complex, context-dependent effects on forest nutrient cycling and decomposition processes. This highlight the importance to considering a broader range of nutrients and various forest sites in future research.
ER -