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Burns FINAL 05 03 2021 with cert.pdf (7.86 MB)

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Estimating the Ecological Impact and Carrying Capacity of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center

Burns, Curtis David , Jr.
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8377-8170
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu162006315961417

Abstract Details

2021, Master of Science in Environmental Science, Youngstown State University, Department of Physics, Astronomy, Geology and Environmental Sciences.
Anthropogenic habitat modification, predator extirpation, and reduced hunting pressure have pushed white-tailed deer (WTD; Odocoileus virginianus) populations to unprecedentedly high densities throughout much of eastern North America. Importantly, their selective foraging can depress the abundance of preferred native plant species, increase that of less nutritious ones, and facilitate exotic species invasion. However, few have researched areas where WTD densities have been maintained, for decades, at low levels. Moreover, scant data exists on canopy species regeneration across different-aged canopy gaps, in different habitats, and in areas of historically high and low WTD densities. Here, we ask: 1) across a range of canopy gap ages, does WTD density affect the number and relative cover of native and non-native plant species, in wet and dry habitats?, and 2) does vegetation structure differ in areas of historically low WTD density relative to areas where WTD are excluded via fenced exclosures? – here, an answer of `no’ suggests WTD are at or below their carrying capacity. This study took place in and outside of Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center (C-JAG, Portage Co., OH), which has maintained WTD densities 2-3 times lower than the surrounding areas, since 1955. Excluding WTD at C-JAG for one year did not result in different plant communities, suggesting C-JAG’s aggressive WTD management has them at or below their carrying capacity. Relative to surrounding areas, canopy gaps at C-JAG generally harbored a more diverse and abundant assemblage of native species, especially in dry habitats, and lower levels of non-native species in both habitats. Canopy gap age did not affect any response variable, suggesting a low WTD density generally promotes native plant diversity, and reduces the incidence of exotic species, regardless of gap successional stage. Given that energy transfer to higher trophic levels tends to be greater in areas of high native plant diversity, maintaining low WTD densities may facilitate the diversity and abundance of species at higher trophic levels. Lastly, without adequate WTD management, our forests will likely suffer continued native biodiversity loss, altered successional trajectories, and become increasingly dominated by exotic species.
Ian J. Renne, PhD (Advisor)
Walter P. Carson, PhD (Committee Member)
Thomas P. Diggins, PhD (Committee Member)
Felicia P. Armstrong, PhD (Committee Member)
97 p.
Biology; Ecology; Forestry; Natural Resource Management
white-tailed deer; deer ecology; deer management; forest ecology; canopy gaps

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Burns, Jr., C. D. (2021). Estimating the Ecological Impact and Carrying Capacity of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center [Master's thesis, Youngstown State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu162006315961417

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Burns, Jr., Curtis . Estimating the Ecological Impact and Carrying Capacity of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center. 2021. Youngstown State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu162006315961417.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Burns, Jr., Curtis . "Estimating the Ecological Impact and Carrying Capacity of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center." Master's thesis, Youngstown State University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu162006315961417

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ysu162006315961417
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© 2021, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Youngstown State University and OhioLINK.