Single and interactive effects of deer and earthworms on non-native plants

Dávalos, Andrea; Nuzzo, Victoria; Blossey, Bernd

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2015.04.026

Cited by 49 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…Furthermore, introduced earthworms have been found to have positive, direct effects on non‐native plant species (Roth et al ., ) by burying seeds in their burrows, which have high nutrient concentrations and may attenuate drought stress (Migge‐Kleian et al ., ; Eisenhauer & Scheu, ). There is also growing evidence of a synergistic effect of introduced earthworms and deer herbivory on non‐native plant species (Dávalos et al ., ). Particularly in newly invaded North American forests, introduced earthworms – in combination with deer herbivory – may be increasing disturbance frequency relative to historical norms (Frelich et al ., ), which is an important factor in explaining increases in the abundance of non‐native species (Moles et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Across studies, impacts of earthworm invasion were significantly heterogeneous, likely due to variation in biophysical factors (Hale et al ., ; Resner et al ., ), invasion history (Hale et al ., ), and co‐occurring disturbances (Fisichelli et al ., ; Dávalos et al ., ). Variation and error associated with measurement of earthworm and plant communities also may contribute to this heterogeneity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The unseen invaders: introduced earthworms as drivers of change in plant communities in North American forests (a meta‐analysis)

Craven

Thakur

Cameron

et al. 2016

Global Change Biology

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Globally, biological invasions can have strong impacts on biodiversity as well as ecosystem functioning. While less conspicuous than introduced aboveground organisms, introduced belowground organisms may have similarly strong effects. Here, we synthesize for the first time the impacts of introduced earthworms on plant diversity and community composition in North American forests. We conducted a meta‐analysis using a total of 645 observations to quantify mean effect sizes of associations between introduced earthworm communities and plant diversity, cover of plant functional groups, and cover of native and non‐native plants. We found that plant diversity significantly declined with increasing richness of introduced earthworm ecological groups. While plant species richness or evenness did not change with earthworm invasion, our results indicate clear changes in plant community composition: cover of graminoids and non‐native plant species significantly increased, and cover of native plant species (of all functional groups) tended to decrease, with increasing earthworm biomass. Overall, these findings support the hypothesis that introduced earthworms facilitate particular plant species adapted to the abiotic conditions of earthworm‐invaded forests. Further, our study provides evidence that introduced earthworms are associated with declines in plant diversity in North American forests. Changing plant functional composition in these forests may have long‐lasting effects on ecosystem functioning.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The unseen invaders: introduced earthworms as drivers of change in plant communities in North American forests (a meta‐analysis)

Craven

Thakur

Cameron

et al. 2016

Global Change Biology

Self Cite

118

134

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Earthworm abundances may also be higher in the presence of invasive non‐native plants than in adjacent non‐invaded areas (Dávalos et al . 2015a). There is evidence of a positive feedback cycle in which earthworms facilitate plant invasion and later benefit from the presence of the non‐native plants (Madritch and Lindroth ; Roth et al .…”

Section: Macrocascade Effects Of Earthworm Invasions Of Concern To Somentioning

confidence: 99%

Side‐swiped: ecological cascades emanating from earthworm invasions

Frelich

Blossey

Cameron

et al. 2019

Frontiers in Ecol & Environ

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Non‐native, invasive earthworms are altering soils throughout the world. Ecological cascades emanating from these invasions stem from rapid consumption of leaf litter by earthworms. This occurs at a midpoint in the trophic pyramid, unlike the more familiar bottom‐up or top‐down cascades. These cascades cause fundamental changes (“microcascade effects”) in soil morphology, bulk density, and nutrient leaching, and a shift to warmer, drier soil surfaces with a loss of leaf litter. In North American temperate and boreal forests, microcascade effects can affect carbon sequestration, disturbance regimes, soil and water quality, forest productivity, plant communities, and wildlife habitat, and can facilitate other invasive species. These broader‐scale changes (“macrocascade effects”) are of greater concern to society. Interactions among these fundamental changes and broader‐scale effects create “cascade complexes” that interact with climate change and other environmental processes. The diversity of cascade effects, combined with the vast area invaded by earthworms, leads to regionally important changes in ecological functioning.

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“…In Pennsylvania, aboveground insect abundance, richness, and diversity were up to 50% higher where deer were excluded for 60 years (Chips et al, 2015). Furthermore, deer facilitate spread of invasive plants and F I G U R E 1 White-tailed deer female (yellow ear tag and VHF collar) and male in velvet (blue ear tags) on the Cornell campus in summer 2009 (photos by B. Blossey) invasive earthworms (Dávalos, Nuzzo, & Blossey, 2015b;Dávalos, Simpson, Nuzzo, & Blossey, 2015;Eschtruth & Battles, 2009;Kalisz, Spigler, & Horvitz, 2014;Shelton, Henning, Schultz, & Clay, 2014), which individually and collectively have far reaching consequences on soils, erosion, nutrient cycling, and food webs ). In summary, elevated deer densities create depauperate landscapes, and the resulting successional forest trajectories have long-lasting (>100 years) legacy effects that negatively affect all trophic levels including migratory birds (Bressette, Beck, & Beauchamp, 2012;Martin, Arcese, & Scheerder, 2011;Nuttle, Ristau, & Royo, 2014;Nuttle, Yerger, Stoleson, & Ristau, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Red oak seedlings as indicators of deer browse pressure: Gauging the outcome of different white‐tailed deer management approaches

Blossey

Curtis

Boulanger

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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After decades of high deer populations, North American forests have lost much of their previous biodiversity. Any landscape‐level recovery requires substantial reductions in deer herds, but modern societies and wildlife management agencies appear unable to devise appropriate solutions to this chronic ecological and human health crisis. We evaluated the effectiveness of fertility control and hunting in reducing deer impacts at Cornell University. We estimated spring deer populations and planted Quercus rubra seedlings to assess deer browse pressure, rodent attack, and other factors compromising seedling performance. Oak seedlings protected in cages grew well, but deer annually browsed ≥60% of unprotected seedlings. Despite female sterilization rates of >90%, the deer population remained stable. Neither sterilization nor recreational hunting reduced deer browse rates and neither appears able to achieve reductions in deer populations or their impacts. We eliminated deer sterilization and recreational hunting in a core management area in favor of allowing volunteer archers to shoot deer over bait, including at night. This resulted in a substantial reduction in the deer population and a linear decline in browse rates as a function of spring deer abundance. Public trust stewardship of North American landscapes will require a fundamental overhaul in deer management to provide for a brighter future, and oak seedlings may be a promising metric to assess success. These changes will require intense public debate and may require new approaches such as regulated commercial hunting, natural dispersal, or intentional release of important deer predators (e.g., wolves and mountain lions). Such drastic changes in deer management will be highly controversial, and at present, likely difficult to implement in North America. However, the future of our forest ecosystems and their associated biodiversity will depend on evidence to guide change in landscape management and stewardship.

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Single and interactive effects of deer and earthworms on non-native plants

Cited by 49 publications

References 70 publications

The unseen invaders: introduced earthworms as drivers of change in plant communities in North American forests (a meta‐analysis)

The unseen invaders: introduced earthworms as drivers of change in plant communities in North American forests (a meta‐analysis)

Side‐swiped: ecological cascades emanating from earthworm invasions

Red oak seedlings as indicators of deer browse pressure: Gauging the outcome of different white‐tailed deer management approaches

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