NDA@SZTAKI

Ungulate browsing shapes climate change impacts on forest biodiversity in Hungary

Katona, KrisztiĂĄn

Kiss, MĂĄrton

Bleier, Norbert

SzĂŠkely, JĂĄnos

Nyeste, Mariann

KovĂĄcs, Vera

Terhes, Attila

Fodor, Áron

Olajos, TamĂĄs

Rasztovits, Ervin

Szemethy, LĂĄszlĂł

Springer Netherlands

2013

QH540 Ecology / ĂśkolĂłgia

SD Forestry / erdőgazdaság

SK Hunting sports / vadgazdĂĄlkodĂĄs, vadĂĄszat

Climate change can result in a slow disappearance of forests dominated by less drought-tolerant native European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and oak species (Quercus spp.)
and further area expansion of more drought-tolerant non-native black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) against those species in Hungary. We assumed that the shift in plant species composition was modified by selective ungulate browsing. Thus, we investigated which
woody species are selected by browsing game. We have collected data on the species composition of the understory and the browsing impact on it in five different Hungarian
even-aged forests between 2003 and 2005. Based on these investigations the non-native Robinia pseudoacacialiving under more favourable climatic conditions was generally
preferred (Jacobs’ selectivity index: D=0.04±0.77), while the nativeFagus sylvatica and Quercus spp. (Q. petraea, Q. robur), both more vulnerable to increasing aridity, were
avoided (D=-0.37Âą0.11;-0.79Âą0.56;-0.9Âą0.16; respectively) among target tree species. However, economically less or not relevant species, e.g. elderberry (Sambucus spp.), blackberry (Rubus spp.) or common dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) were the most preferred species (D=0.01Âą0.71; -0.12Âą0.58; -0.2Âą0.78, respectively). Our results imply that biodiversity conservation, i.e. maintaining or establishing a multi-species understory layer, can be a good solution to reduce the additional negative game impact on native target tree species suffering from drought. Due to preference for Robinia pseudoacaciaselective browsing can decelerate the penetration of this species into native forest habitats. We have to consider the herbivorous pressure of ungulates and their feeding preferences in planning our future multifunctional forests in the light of climate change impacts.

magyar

Article

PeerReviewed

info:eu-repo/semantics/article

text

http://real.mtak.hu/14936/1/BIOC_Katonaetal_2013_accepted.p...

Katona, Krisztiån and Kiss, Mårton and Bleier, Norbert and SzÊkely, Jånos and Nyeste, Mariann and Kovåcs, Vera and Terhes, Attila and Fodor, Áron and Olajos, Tamås and Rasztovits, Ervin and Szemethy, Låszló (2013) Ungulate browsing shapes climate change impacts on forest biodiversity in Hungary. Biodiversity and Conservation, 22 (5). pp. 1167-1180. ISSN 0960-3115

http://real.mtak.hu/14936/

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10531-013-0490-8

doi:10.1007/s10531-013-0490-8