The interaction of deer and vegetation in coppice woods

Ratcliffe, Philip R.

doi:10.1007/978-94-011-2362-4_12

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…In fact, the forest composition ratios used on our model were specifically chosen to represent habitat suitability indeces for A. flavicollis , the species mainly responsible of the non-viraemic transmission of TBE virus to ticks [54] , [55] , which is generally described as a species of mature forests with understory [56] , [57] . It is widely acknowledged that the structure and species composition of vegetation in the different horizontal layers within a woodland have a considerable influence on small mammals [57] , [58] , [59] , [60] , and the episodic and synchronous production of seeds (mast) which occurs in high stand forests, but very rarely in coppices, could also have a profound influence on these small rodent populations [61] , [62] , [63] , [64] , [but see 65] . It could be argued that increasing forest cover actually reflects an increase of the TBE-vector tick, I.ricinus , which also prefers woodland habitat with an understory that offers favourable microclimatic (especially humidity) conditions [66] ; however, while previous studies have shown that co-feeding of larvae and nymphs on rodent hosts, which is essential for TBE virus amplification, increases with tick density, tick abundance only explains the focal distribution of TBE, but not TBE incidence [11] , [3] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest Structure and Roe Deer Abundance Predict Tick-Borne Encephalitis Risk in Italy

et al. 2009

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BackgroundThe Western Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus often causes devastating or lethal disease. In Europe, the number of human TBE cases has increased dramatically over the last decade, risk areas are expanding and new foci are being discovered every year. The early localisation of new TBE foci and the identification of the main risk factors associated with disease emergence represent a priority for the public health community. Although a number of socio-economic parameters have been suggested to explain TBE upsurges in eastern Europe, the principal driving factors in relatively stable western European countries have not been identified.Methodology/Principal FindingsIn this paper, we analyse the correlation between the upsurge of TBE in 17 alpine provinces in northern Italy from 1992 to 2006 with climatic variables, forest structure (as a proxy for small mammal reservoir host abundance), and abundance of the principal large vertebrate tick host (roe deer), using datasets available for the last 40 years. No significant differences between the pattern of changes in climatic variables in provinces where TBE has emerged compared to provinces were no clinical TBE cases have been observed to date. Instead, the best model for explaining the increase in TBE incidence in humans in this area include changes in forest structure, in particular the ratio of coppice to high stand forest, and the density of roe deer.Conclusion/SignificanceSubstantial changes in vegetation structure that improve habitat suitability for the main TBE reservoir hosts (small mammals), as well as an increase in roe deer abundance due to changes in land and wildlife management practices, are likely to be among the most crucial factors affecting the circulation potential of Western TBE virus and, consequently, the risk of TBE emergence in humans in western Europe. We believe our approach will be useful in predicting TBE risk on a wider scale.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest Structure and Roe Deer Abundance Predict Tick-Borne Encephalitis Risk in Italy

et al. 2009

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“…Conversely, this sylvicultural practice may be in conflict with the forest manage ment based on short rotation cycle that is intended to advantage other mammal (e.g. deer, see Ratcliffe, 1992) and bird species (e.g. nightingales, Bayes & Anderson, 1988 ;Fuller, 1992), even in many forests of the ltalian peninsula.…”

Section: Mus Domesticusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological relationships between small mammals and age of coppice in an oak-mixed forest in central Italy

Capizzi¹,

Luiselli²

1996

revec

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The small mammal community composition was studied in relation to the length of rotation cycle in a oak-mixed coppice woodland in central Italy.Apodemus sylvaticus was the far commonest species in the area, followed by Clethrionomys glareolus and A. jlavicollis. This latter species occurred al most exclusively in mature and old wood plots (age > 12 years), and its ecological distribution appeared rather complementary to that of A. sylvaticus, a potential competitor. Shrews were found mainly in young wood plots (age < 6 years). There were significant seasonal variations in the abundance of the various small mammal species. The abundance of the various species was positively (A. jlavicollis, C. glareolus, Rattus rattus) or inversely (A. sylvaticus and Crocidura sp.) corre lated to wood age. Multivariate analyses divided quite weil the various wood age plots by means of small mammal species occurrence, and A. jlavicollis was the

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“…Coppice can provide ideal conditions for deer, providing both dense cover and high quality browse (Ratcliffe, 1992;Fuller and Gill, 2001). Roe and muntjac cause the most widespread damage to coppice re-growth, though local impacts from fallow can be severe (Symonds, 1985;Tabor, 1993;Chapman et al, 1994;Cooke, 1994;Putman, 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Influences of deer browsing, coppice history, and standard trees on the growth and development of vegetation structure in coppiced woods in lowland England

Joys

Fuller

Dolman

2004

Forest Ecology and Management

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The interaction of deer and vegetation in coppice woods

Cited by 8 publications

References 9 publications

Forest Structure and Roe Deer Abundance Predict Tick-Borne Encephalitis Risk in Italy

Forest Structure and Roe Deer Abundance Predict Tick-Borne Encephalitis Risk in Italy

Ecological relationships between small mammals and age of coppice in an oak-mixed forest in central Italy

Influences of deer browsing, coppice history, and standard trees on the growth and development of vegetation structure in coppiced woods in lowland England

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