Abstract The release of large numbers of juvenile pheasants into open-topped release pens in woodlands is a common part of game management in the UK. Previous research has shown this practice modifies the soil conditions and ground flora community of these release pens. However, it is not currently known if and how these changes to soil and ground flora reverse once the pens are no longer used. We compared the soil chemistry, ground flora structure and community composition of disused release pen sites in ancient semi-natural woodlands with paired control sites. Some of the changes seen within release pens in active use persisted in disused pens; soil fertility and cover of species that prefer fertile soils were higher in disused pens, whereas winter green perennials, richness of species of ancient semi-natural woodland and overall species richness were lower. Total species richness and richness of ancient semi-natural woodland plants showed signs of recovery in pens that had been disused for longer than ten years, but this recovery only occurred in pens where ≤1000 pheasants/ha had been released. Pheasant release pens are sometimes relocated within woodland to reduce disease incidence but, as the flora within disused pens does not recover quickly, this practice may cause cumulative habitat damage. We recommend that release pen relocation should be minimised and suggest other management strategies that could reduce the need to relocate pens and increase the floral recovery in disused pens, such as reducing the density of pheasants released.

中文翻译：

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废弃雉鸡栏的地面菌群恢复受到限制，并受雉鸡释放密度的影响

摘要 将大量幼年雉放生到林地的敞篷释放围栏是英国野生动物管理的常见组成部分。先前的研究表明，这种做法改变了这些释放围栏的土壤条件和地面植物群落。然而，目前尚不清楚一旦不再使用围栏，土壤和地面植物群的这些变化是否以及如何逆转。我们比较了古代半天然林地废弃释放围栏场地与配对对照场地的土壤化学、地面植物群结构和群落组成。在使用中的释放笔中看到的一些变化在废弃的笔中仍然存在；在废弃的围栏中，喜欢肥沃土壤的物种的土壤肥力和覆盖率更高，而冬季绿色多年生植物，古半天然林地物种丰富度和整体物种丰富度较低。总物种丰富度和古代半天然林地植物丰富度在已废弃十年以上的围栏出现恢复迹象，但这种恢复仅发生在≤1000只/公顷野鸡的围栏中。野鸡释放围栏有时会重新安置在林地内以减少疾病发生率，但由于废弃围栏内的植物群不能迅速恢复，这种做法可能会导致栖息地累积破坏。我们建议应尽量减少释放围栏的搬迁，并建议其他管理策略，以减少搬迁围栏的需要并增加废弃围栏的花卉恢复，例如降低释放的雉鸡的密度。总物种丰富度和远古半天然林地植物丰富度在废弃十年以上的围栏出现恢复迹象，但这种恢复仅发生在≤1000只/公顷的围栏内。野鸡释放围栏有时会重新安置在林地内以减少疾病发生率，但由于废弃围栏内的植物群不能迅速恢复，这种做法可能会导致栖息地累积破坏。我们建议应尽量减少释放围栏的搬迁，并建议其他管理策略，以减少搬迁围栏的需要并增加废弃围栏的花卉恢复，例如降低释放的雉鸡的密度。总物种丰富度和古代半天然林地植物丰富度在已废弃十年以上的围栏出现恢复迹象，但这种恢复仅发生在≤1000只/公顷野鸡的围栏中。野鸡释放围栏有时会重新安置在林地内以减少疾病发生率，但由于废弃围栏内的植物群不能迅速恢复，这种做法可能会导致栖息地累积破坏。我们建议应尽量减少释放围栏的搬迁，并建议其他管理策略，以减少搬迁围栏的需要并增加废弃围栏的花卉恢复，例如降低释放的雉鸡的密度。但这种恢复只发生在释放≤1000 只野鸡/公顷的围栏中。野鸡释放围栏有时会重新安置在林地内以减少疾病发生率，但由于废弃围栏内的植物群不能迅速恢复，这种做法可能会导致栖息地累积破坏。我们建议应尽量减少释放围栏的搬迁，并建议其他管理策略，以减少搬迁围栏的需要并增加废弃围栏的花卉恢复，例如降低释放的雉鸡的密度。但这种恢复只发生在释放≤1000 只野鸡/公顷的围栏中。野鸡释放围栏有时会重新安置在林地内以减少疾病发生率，但由于废弃围栏内的植物群不能迅速恢复，这种做法可能会导致栖息地累积破坏。我们建议应尽量减少释放围栏的搬迁，并建议其他管理策略，以减少搬迁围栏的需要并增加废弃围栏的花卉恢复，例如降低释放的雉鸡的密度。