Influence of herbivory pressure on the growth rate and needle morphology of Taxus baccata L. juveniles

Abstract

Damage by herbivore grazing negatively influences the development of subsequent forest generations. Little is known about the long-term impacts of grazing and interactions between grazing and light conditions on sapling growth after the cessation of herbivory impact. In this study, Taxus baccata saplings were grown over a period of four years in artificial shading at 2, 8, 30 and 100% of full sunlight (described as initial light). These saplings were planted in fenced and unfenced plots in a mixed forest in Poland. After six years with no protection from grazing, deer pressure was eliminated by fencing. In this study, we analysed sapling growth and needle morphology five years after deer suppression. Overall, grazing had a negative significant impact on the growth rate and needle morphology of T. baccata saplings. Saplings damaged by herbivores had a height increment approximately one-third that of non-grazed saplings. The grazed yew saplings had a lower needle area and length and a higher specific leaf area (SLA) than non-grazed saplings. Initial and current light conditions did not influence tree growth rates and needle morphology. However, we found positive correlations between sapling height and both leaf area and leaf length and a negative correlation between sapling height and SLA. Browsed yews also had a greater tendency to form polycormic (multi-stemmed) individuals. Lower growth rates, smaller needles and polycormic stems indicate a strategy of "escaping" herbivory pressure even five years after elimination of deer pressure.

Photochemistry and Antioxidative Capacity of Female and Male Taxus baccata L. Acclimated to Different Nutritional Environments

“…T . baccata is threatened by extinction due to its low tolerance of a range of environmental stresses and its intensive exploitation in the past (Thomas and Polwart, 2003 ; Iszkuło et al, 2016 ; Kýpetová et al, 2018 ).…”

Population ecology and dynamics of a remnant natural population of European yew Taxus baccata in a lowland temperate forest – implications for use in reforestation

“…Although containing poisonous taxine alkaloids in its foliage, bark and seeds, some wildlife species such as deer and squirrels feed on T. baccata (Haigh et al 2015). However, deer‐browsing can negatively impact T. baccata recruitment, survival and growth (Mysterud and Østbye 2004, Dhar et al 2008, Kýpeťová et al 2018, Sedmáková et al 2018). Still, there seems to be variability in the degree of impact, as yew seedling survival in Poland was surprisingly high despite heavy browsing, reflecting a certain browse tolerance of T. baccata combined with protection from spiny shrubs (e.g.…”

The dynamics of the Taxus baccata L. population and the factors affecting its regeneration in the Jasień Nature Reserve

“…However, at that time browsing was mostly caused by grazing cattle. In a study of a mixed forest by Kýpeťová et al (2018), it was found that grazing had a negative significant impact both on the growth rate and needle morphology of saplings. Those damaged by herbivores exhibited approximately a third of the height increment of nongrazed saplings.…”