NETNDeer
Importance / IssuesWhite-tailed deer populations have reached historic high levels across much of the eastern US. The associated deer herbivory has ecological relevance for vegetation regeneration and substantial management significance. Many parks in the southern part of the NETN have already experienced degradation in resource condition caused by extensive deer herbivory. We will integrate measures of the ecological effects deer have on forest ecosystems into the Forest Monitoring Protocol (i.e., tree regeneration and presence of indicator species). This will allow us to provide parks with robust information regarding resource condition rather than highly variable estimates of the deer populations themselves. This vital sign is integrated into the forest vegetation vital sign and will provide the necessary information for supporting and improving related management activities. Protocol Development & StatusThe Long-term Forest Monitoring Protocol incorporates deer browse as part of the SOP for Regeneration. This protocol was implemented in 2006 and 2007 at the following parks: Acadia NP, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP, Minute Man NHP, Morristown NHP, Roosevelt-Vanderbilt NHS, Saint-Gaudens NHS, Saratoga NHP, and Weir Farm NHS. The NETN Forest Protocol is designed to monitor forest ecosystem integrity in a standardized and cost-efficient manner across NETN parks. This protocol must allow statistical inference of status and trends within and across parks with sufficient statistical power. The use of permanent plots will increase power to detect trends over time by eliminating spatial variation. The protocol will also facilitate comparison of NETN data with other NPS networks and regional data such as that from the USFS FIA program. Potential MeasuresThe SOP for Regeneration quantifies live saplings, established seedlings, and shrubs by species on three 2-m radius circular microplots. Seedlings are also quantified by size class. In early-successional plots, shrub cover is estimated rather than quantified. These data yield information on advance regeneration, future cover, and the effects of deer browsing. |
 Preliminary Monitoring ObjectiveTree regeneration data provides an early warning indicator of overstory composition change, and are indicative of browsing pressure. |
ReferencesNone Presently Available |