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Impact of selective foraging by red deer on the long-term vegetation development in the Swiss National Park
Kathi Märki1, Bernhard Nievergelt1, Andreas Gigon2, Martin Schütz31Institute of Zoology, Wildlife Research and Conservation Biology, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland2 Geobotanical Institute, Plant Ecology and Conservation Biology, ETH Zurich, CH-8044 Zurich, Switzerland 3Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland AbstractDirect observations were carried out at two subalpine pastures, «Il Fuorn» and «Praspöl», in the Swiss National Park, to study selective foraging behaviour of red deer. One type of behaviour was selection of feeding sites. At «Il Fuorn», in the course of the season, grazing tracks were concentrated on certain sub-areas of the pasture. Some species forming dense stands (Brachypodium pinnatum, Blysmus compressus and Elyna myosuroides) were avoided completely. At «Praspöl», a pattern emerged relative to knolls and depressions. Another type was selection of plant species. All species were consumed, except for species forming dense stands. Red deer grazed approximately half of the plant species according to availability, while the remainder were clearly preferred or avoided. A comparison of selectivity and long-term vegetation development showed that vegetation change is only driven by selective behaviour of red deer to a limited extent. More relevant are total foraging pressure, export of nutrients, as well as cropping resistance of plant species. At both pastures, vegetation tended to develop towards species indicating oligotrophic soil, cropping-resistant species, or species avoided by red deer.Preface | abstract 1 | abstract 2 | abstract 3 | abstract 4 | abstract 5 | abstract 6 | abstract 7 | abstract 8 | abstract 9 | abstract 10 | abstract 11 |