Deer impact on silver fir artificial regeneration. First results of a cluster planting trial

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of roe deer and fallow deer on Silver fir planted in small clusters after a clear cut in the Vallombrosa Forest (Florence, Italy). We measured height and deer impact on all firs planted in various sized clusters (from 6 to 59 fir per cluster, distance between firs in the cluster: 15-20 cm). Six years after planting, almost all the young fir were impacted by deer and often showed deviated stem growth as a result of past browsing. The majority of the silver fir saplings were less than one meter high, and were significantly smaller than firs planted inside a fenced control area. Plant position inside the cluster did not affect stem height and number of deer impacts. Height and impact incidenc ewas instead related to fir density within each cluster. We conclude that in a situation of maximum susceptibility to deer impact such as the one we have analyzed, planted firs are strongly affected by deer and cluster planting does not seem successful in reducing this impact.