Subcontinental-scale patterns of large-ungulate herbivory and synoptic review of restoration management implications for midwestern and northeastern forests
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Level 4 by design analogy (cross-sectional regional forest inventory analysis and synoptic review).
OpenAlex W2897525292 · doi:10.2737/nrs-gtr-182
What was done
The authors evaluated large-ungulate (white-tailed deer, *Odocoileus virginianus*) browse impacts using regional forest inventory plots spanning 182.4 million acres across the midwestern and northeastern United States. They mapped browse impact probabilities, compared spatial patterns to historical assessments by Aldo Leopold and others, and conducted a synoptic review of forest regeneration implications.
What was found
Moderate or high browse impacts were estimated across 59% of the 182.4 million acres of inventoried forest land. The Mid-Atlantic region had the highest proportion at 79%. Specific forest types exceeded the regional average, including oak/hickory (*Quercus*/*Carya*) at 69% and maple/beech/birch (*Acer*/*Fagus*/*Betula*) at 65%. Historical problem areas were found to persist, with new impact zones emerging in Central/Plains, Mid-Atlantic, and New England states.
Why it matters
These findings show that severe ungulate browse remains widespread and chronic across eastern US forests, conferring a persistent competitive advantage to unpalatable tree species over dominant canopy species and requiring ungulate-adapted regeneration management strategies.
Limits
The abstract does not state the exact number of inventory plots sampled, specific years of data collection, precision metrics (such as confidence intervals), or the operational criteria used to classify browse severity as moderate or high.
Cited by
- supports High populations of deer cause significant ecological damage in Midwestern woodlands.