Deer herbivory affects the functional diversity of forest floor plants via changes in competition‐mediated assembly rules

Deer herbivory significantly impacts the functional diversity of forest floor plants by altering competition-mediated assembly processes, leading to distinct ecological outcomes depending on grazing intensity. Research in Shiretoko National Park, Japan, revealed that while overgrazing increases species richness and diversity due to stochastic assembly processes, deer exclusion results in competitive dominance by a few superior plant species, reducing biodiversity and promoting biotic homogenization. The study highlights the importance of balancing deer herbivory for maintaining ecological processes and biodiversity, cautioning against complete exclusion through fencing.

Nishizawa, K., Tatsumi, S., Kitagawa, R., & Mori, A. S. (2016). Deer herbivory affects the functional diversity of forest floor plants via changes in competition‐mediated assembly rules. Ecological Research, 31(4), 569–578. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-016-1367-6