Recent research suggests that deer impact on forest vegetation differs according to the surrounding landscape composition. However, there is no consistent trend on how food-rich habitat affects deer browsing impact on forest vegetation. The study took place in Yatsugatake region (Japan) where forests dominate, there are many artificial grasslands with various size, and large crop fields exist around urban area. We examined whether (1) the surrounding abundant alternative food (in this study, artificial grasslands) in forests increases deer density and (2) the high deer density affects forest vegetation more seriously. We evaluated the coverage of understory vegetation and the occurrence of debarking on standing trees. This study demonstrated that the abundant surrounding artificial grasslands increased deer density in forests. High deer density impacted forest vegetation negatively. Pellet group number was significantly higher in forests with high percentage of artificial grassland area and low percentage of crop field area. It was also higher in evergreen forests compared with other forest types. The coverage of understory vegetation was significantly reduced on the plots where many pellet groups were found. The occurrence of debarking on standing trees was significantly higher on the plots where many pellet groups were found than on plots with less pellets. In conclusion, abundance food-rich habitat around forests increases deer density in forests, which leads to a stronger impact of deer on forest vegetation.

中文翻译：

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森林周围大量人工草地增加了鹿对森林植被的影响

最近的研究表明，鹿对森林植被的影响因周围景观组成而异。然而，关于食物丰富的栖息地如何影响鹿食对森林植被的影响并没有一致的趋势。该研究在森林占主导地位的八岳地区（日本）进行，有许多大小不一的人工草地，城市周围有大片农田。我们检查了（1）森林中周围丰富的替代食物（在本研究中为人工草地）是否增加了鹿密度，以及（2）高鹿密度对森林植被的影响是否更严重。我们评估了林下植被的覆盖率和立树剥皮的发生情况。这项研究表明，周围丰富的人工草地增加了森林中的鹿密度。高鹿密度对森林植被产生负面影响。在人工草地面积比例高和农田面积比例低的森林中，颗粒群数显着较高。与其他森林类型相比，常绿森林中的这一比例也更高。在发现许多颗粒群的地块上，林下植被的覆盖率显着降低。在发现许多颗粒群的地块上，立树上剥皮的发生率明显高于颗粒较少的地块。总之，森林周围富含食物的丰富栖息地增加了森林中的鹿密度，这导致鹿对森林植被的影响更大。在人工草地面积比例高和农田面积比例低的森林中，颗粒群数显着较高。与其他森林类型相比，常绿森林中的这一比例也更高。在发现许多颗粒群的地块上，林下植被的覆盖率显着降低。在发现许多颗粒群的地块上，立树上剥皮的发生率明显高于颗粒较少的地块。总之，森林周围富含食物的丰富栖息地增加了森林中鹿的密度，这导致鹿对森林植被的影响更大。在人工草地面积比例高和农田面积比例低的森林中，颗粒群数显着较高。与其他森林类型相比，常绿森林中的这一比例也更高。在发现许多颗粒群的地块上，林下植被的覆盖率显着降低。在发现许多颗粒群的地块上，立树上剥皮的发生率明显高于颗粒较少的地块。总之，森林周围富含食物的丰富栖息地增加了森林中鹿的密度，这导致鹿对森林植被的影响更大。在发现许多颗粒群的地块上，立树上剥皮的发生率明显高于颗粒较少的地块。总之，森林周围富含食物的丰富栖息地增加了森林中鹿的密度，这导致鹿对森林植被的影响更大。在发现许多颗粒群的地块上，立树上剥皮的发生率明显高于颗粒较少的地块。总之，森林周围富含食物的丰富栖息地增加了森林中鹿的密度，这导致鹿对森林植被的影响更大。