Kuijper, D.P.J. (corresponding author, firstname.lastname@example.org), Jędrzejewska, B. (email@example.com), Churski, M. (firstname.lastname@example.org) & Jędrzejewski, W. (email@example.com): Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Waszkiewicza 1c, 17-230 Białowieża, Poland. Brzeziecki, B. (firstname.lastname@example.org) & Żybura, H. (email@example.com): Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Forestry Faculty, Department of Silviculture, ul. Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warszawa, Poland.
Fluctuating ungulate density shapes tree recruitment in natural stands of the Białowieża Primeval Forest, Poland
Article first published online: 2 SEP 2010
© 2010 International Association for Vegetation Science
Journal of Vegetation Science
Volume 21, Issue 6, pages 1082–1098, December 2010
How to Cite
Kuijper, D. P.J., Jędrzejewska, B., Brzeziecki, B., Churski, M., Jędrzejewski, W. and Żybura, H. (2010), Fluctuating ungulate density shapes tree recruitment in natural stands of the Białowieża Primeval Forest, Poland. Journal of Vegetation Science, 21: 1082–1098. doi: 10.1111/j.1654-1103.2010.01217.x
Co-ordinating Editor: Norman Mason.
- Issue published online: 26 OCT 2010
- Article first published online: 2 SEP 2010
- Received 17 November 2009;, Accepted 4 August 2010.
- Browsing impact;
- European bison;
- Red deer;
- Roe deer;
- Temperate deciduous forest;
- Top-down effects;
Question: What are the main driving factors in 70 years of natural dynamics in tree recruitment in the Białowieża National Park?
Location: Białowieża National Park, Poland, is one of the least disturbed temperate, lowland forest systems in Europe.
Methods: We tested whether fluctuations in large herbivore populations, changes in climate and openness of the forest explained compositional dynamics. Tree recruitment (to size class DBH≥5 cm) was measured on permanent transects (in total, 14.9 ha) six times between 1936-2002. These data were related to existing data on ungulate density, climatic parameters and estimates of forest openness collected during the same period.
Results: Total recruitment of all tree species combined was negatively correlated with total ungulate density and red deer density. The variation in response between species was related to the preferences of herbivores; the more preferred forage species (especially Carpinus betulus) were positively and the less preferred species negatively related to herbivore density. Total tree recruitment rates were not related to climatic parameters and openness of the forest. Only Alnus glutinosa recruitment was significantly related to climatic parameters, and Ulmus glabra related to forest openness, but there were no predictable patterns in recruitment among species in relation to these factors.
Conclusion: The present study indicated that changes in large herbivore density have played an important role in driving patterns in tree recruitment and species composition during the last 70 years in Białowieża National Park. In contrast to other studies, increasing herbivore numbers were associated with higher recruitment of preferred and browsing-tolerant species. Periodical crashes in ungulate numbers, whether human-induced or caused by natural factors, may offer windows of opportunity for regeneration of a range of tree species and facilitate more diverse and dynamic forest development.