Herbivory constrains survival, reproduction and mutualisms when restoring nine temperate forest herbs

Scott Ruhren, Steven N. Handel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

Restoration of perennial herbs may be influenced by plant-animal interactions. For example, projects may be aided by native pollinators or seed dispersers or impeded by herbivores. Our previous work at Jockey Hollow, a U.S. National Park, indicated that abundance of native woodland herbs was low and herbivory by Odocoileus virginianus Zimmerman (white-tailed deer) was intense. The goal of our experiment was to test the feasibility of herbaceous plant restoration in spite of a large O. virginianus herd. By examining small-scale reintroductions of nine species of native herbaceous perennials (Asarum canadense L., Geranium maculatum L., Mitella diphylla L., Polemonium reptans L., Sanguinaria canadensis L., Smilacina racemosa (L.) Desf., Tiarella cordifolia L., Uvularia grandiflora J.E. Smith and Viola spp.) we determined which plants survived and reproduced. After 3 years, 46% of plants survived and 5% flowered inside exclosures, while 23% of plants planted outside survived; no plants surviving outside exclosures flowered. Within deer exclosures, native bees visited five species and ants dispersed Sanguinaria seeds in experimental depots. However pollination and seed dispersal occurs only with protection from O. virginianus. Overabundant O. virginianus and the relatively long generation time of perennial herbs may prevent restoration of similar plant communities at this time.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)34-42
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of the Torrey Botanical Society
Volume130
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2003

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Ecology
  • Plant Science

Keywords

  • Deer exclosures
  • Deer herbivory
  • Myrmecochory
  • Odocoileus virginianus
  • Plant reproduction

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