Material Type  

 학위논문

 

0016932861

Date and Time of Latest Transaction  

20240214100554

ISBN  

9798379852290

DDC  

630

Author  

Sample, Richard D.

Title/Author  

The Influence of Local and Landscape Characteristics on Deer Browsing, and Subsequently The Composition and Structure of Forest Understories, in Indiana - [electronic resource]

Publish Info  

[S.l.] : Purdue University., 2022

Publish Info  

Ann Arbor : ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, 2022

Material Info  

1 online resource(285 p.)

General Note  

Source: Dissertations Abstracts International, Volume: 85-01, Section: B.

General Note  

Advisor: Jenkins, Michael A.

학위논문주기  

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Purdue University, 2022.

Restrictions on Access Note  

This item must not be sold to any third party vendors.

Abstracts/Etc  

요약White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; hereafter deer) are a keystone herbivore within forest ecosystems. While deer rely on plant species for growth, reproduction, and survival, multiple external factors can dictate browsing behavior. These factors ultimately drive browsing selection, browsing intensity, and diet composition, which in turn can shape the influence deer have on forest ecosystems. To better understand the complex relationship between deer populations, their habitat, and public perception of deer, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources partnered with Purdue University to initiate the Integrated Deer Management Project (IDMP). As part of the IDMP, this dissertation evaluated the ecological condition of deer habitat to assess the influence deer have on woody and herbaceous plant species within Indiana forests.Our study aimed to i) rank woody species according to their selection by deer and evaluate how the ranking of individual species varies across the state (Chapter 2); ii) evaluate variables and spatial extents associated with differences in browsing intensity, and evaluate different indices used to assess differences in browsing intensity (Chapter 3); iii) quantify winter deer diet composition using DNA barcoding to evaluate how diets vary across a gradient of deer densities, browsing intensities, non-native plant densities, and landscape characteristics (Chapter 4); and iv) evaluate the interactive effects of deer, non-native plant species, and landscape characteristics on the herbaceous layer of forests, while further evaluating the spatial extent at which landscape characteristics are most strongly related to herbaceous-layer composition and diversity (Chapter 5). To do this, I sampled 152 woodlots over three years across three regions of Indiana, collecting data on the browsing selection of individual woody species, the browsing intensities on all woody species, and the composition of vegetation communities (Chapters 2, 3, and 5, respectively). To address diet composition (Chapter 4), we collected deer pellet groups to analyzed diet components.We ranked a total of 63 woody species regarding their browsing selection by deer. While most of these remained consistent from region to region, 16 varied greatly in selection, as deer often showed increased selection for a given species when it resided in an area that provided greater browsing opportunities. Browsing intensity was most associated with food availability, however, it was also influenced by deer density in the region with the lowest forest cover. The twig age index of browsing intensity showed promise as the most efficient and effective index for use in Indiana woodlots. Although diet composition did not differ across regions of Indiana, we found that deer consumed several uncommon taxa when the greater landscape exhibited homogenous patch composition. Similarly, deer consumed different native taxa in forested landscapes with greater deer densities in comparison to agricultural landscapes with lower deer densities. Lastly, though browsing varied within and across regions landscape characteristic, and not deer, were the most influential suite of variables. Additionally, the spatial extent at which these variables exhibited their best fit varied depending on the dependent variable being evaluated and the region of analysis.Together, our results highlight that variables ranging from the woodlot to the landscape-scale influence browsing behavior. This showcases that deer respond to variables at varying scales when browsing and in general, browse more in areas that offer the greatest benefit, whether these areas offer greater food availability or quality, or offer lower risks associated with anthropogenic development.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Animal populations.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Agriculture.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Vegetation.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Chi-square test.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Food.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Flowers & plants.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Wildlife management.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Natural resources.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Regions.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Native species.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Winter.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Diet.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Deer.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Environmental protection.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Forests.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Foraging behavior.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Ecosystems.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Wildlife conservation.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Behavioral sciences.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Botany.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Ecology.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Environmental health.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Forestry.

Subject Added Entry-Topical Term  

Natural resource management.

Added Entry-Corporate Name  

Purdue University.

Host Item Entry  

Dissertations Abstracts International. 85-01B.

Host Item Entry  

Dissertation Abstract International

Electronic Location and Access  

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소장사항  

202402 2024

Control Number  

joongbu:643630