10.5061/DRYAD.F4245
Champagne, Emilie
Université Laval
Moore, Ben D.
Western Sydney University
Côté, Steeve D.
Université Laval
Tremblay, Jean-Pierre
Université Laval
Data from: Spatial correlations between browsing on balsam fir by
white-tailed deer and the nutritional value of neighboring winter forage
Dryad
dataset
2019
Abies balsamea
neighbourhood effect
cervid
nutritional value
Spatial analyses
Chemical composition
deer browsing
Odocoileus virginianus
2019-01-08T00:00:00Z
2019-01-08T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3878
37147 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Associational effects, that is, the influence of neighboring plants on
herbivory suffered by a plant, are an outcome of forage selection.
Although forage selection is a hierarchical process, few studies have
investigated associational effects at multiple spatial scales. Because the
nutritional quality of plants can be spatially structured, it might
differently influence associational effects across multiple scales. Our
objective was to determine the radius of influence of neighbor density and
nutritional quality on balsam fir (Abies balsamea) herbivory by
white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in winter. We quantified
browsing rates on fir and the density and quality of neighboring trees in
a series of 10-year-old cutovers on Anticosti Island (Canada). We used
cross-correlations to investigate relationships between browsing rates and
the density and nutritional quality of neighboring trees at distances up
to 1,000 m. Balsam fir and white spruce (Picea glauca) fiber content and
dry matter in vitro true digestibility were correlated with fir browsing
rate at the finest extra-patch scale (across distance of up to 50 m) and
between cutover areas (300–400 m). These correlations suggest
associational effects, that is, low nutritional quality of neighbors
reduces the likelihood of fir herbivory (associational defense). Our
results may indicate associational effects mediated by intraspecific
variation in plant quality and suggest that these effects could occur at
scales from tens to hundreds of meters. Understanding associational
effects could inform strategies for restoration or conservation; for
example, planting of fir among existing natural regeneration could be
concentrated in areas of low nutritional quality.
crosscorr_browsingData used in cross-correlation to test the impact of the
abundance and nutritional quality of neighbours on balsam fir browsing in
Champagne, Moore, Côté and Tremblay. Spatial correlations between browsing
on balsam fir by white-tailed deer and the nutritional value of
neighbouring winter foragelandscape_configData used to investigate the
effect of landscape configuration on balsam fir browsing by deer in
Champagne, Moore, Côté and Tremblay. Spatial correlations between browsing
on balsam fir by white-tailed deer and the nutritional value of
neighbouring winter forage
Canada
Anticosti Island
Québec