Interaction of beaver and elk herbivory reduces standing crop of willow

Populations of beaver and willow have not thrived in riparian environments that are heavily browsed by livestock or ungulates, such as elk. The interaction of beaver and elk herbivory may be an important mechanism underlying beaver and willow declines in this competitive environment. We conducted a field experiment that compared the standing crop of willow three years after simulated beaver cutting on paired plants with and without intense elk browsing (85% utilization rate). Simulated beaver cutting with intense elk browsing produced willow that was small (biomass and diameter) and short, with far fewer, but longer, shoots and a higher percentage of dead biomass. In contrast, simulated beaver cutting without elk...

Categories: Publication; Types: Citation, Journal Citation; Tags: Castor canadensis, Ecological Applications, Rocky Mountain National Park, Salix monticola, beaver, All tags... compensatory growth, elk, herbivory, livestock, plant– herbivore interaction, standing crop, ungulate, willow, Fewer tags