Regeneration of subalpine conifer species is inhibited by bark-stripping deer in a Betula forest

Climate change is expected to alter biotic interactions governing tree species ranges. Identifying the limiting demographic processes controlling tree distribution is key to projecting future range shifts. A preference by herbivores for stripping the bark of tree species undergoing range shifts coul...

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Main Authors: Takuo Nagaike, Hayato Iijima
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15230430.2024.2447631
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author Takuo Nagaike
Hayato Iijima
author_facet Takuo Nagaike
Hayato Iijima
author_sort Takuo Nagaike
collection DOAJ
description Climate change is expected to alter biotic interactions governing tree species ranges. Identifying the limiting demographic processes controlling tree distribution is key to projecting future range shifts. A preference by herbivores for stripping the bark of tree species undergoing range shifts could inhibit tree range shifts. We focused on the effects of bark stripping by recently arrived sika deer (Cervus nippon) on the survival of subalpine conifers (Abies spp.) in a Betula ermanii forest in central Japan. Abies spp. which currently occur at lower elevations than B. ermanii but are predicted to expand to higher elevations with climate change, were less abundant than B. ermanii on Mt. Kita, central Japan, and were preferred by sika deer for bark stripping. The ratio of the number of stripped Abies stems to the total number of stripped stems was unrelated to elevation. Because of the lower dominance of Abies spp. at higher elevations, bark-stripping pressure on them would be stronger there. Both bark stripping by deer and competition (intra- and interspecific) contribute to the death of Abies spp. Our results suggest that bark-stripping herbivores can be an important contributing factor hampering upward range shifts of Abies spp.
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series Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research
spelling doaj-art-6c2058ace87f40b8a013838f9b65046e2025-02-03T15:51:09ZengTaylor & Francis GroupArctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research1523-04301938-42462025-12-0157110.1080/15230430.2024.2447631Regeneration of subalpine conifer species is inhibited by bark-stripping deer in a Betula forestTakuo Nagaike0Hayato Iijima1Yamanashi Forest Research Institute, Yamanashi, JapanForestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Ibaraki, JapanClimate change is expected to alter biotic interactions governing tree species ranges. Identifying the limiting demographic processes controlling tree distribution is key to projecting future range shifts. A preference by herbivores for stripping the bark of tree species undergoing range shifts could inhibit tree range shifts. We focused on the effects of bark stripping by recently arrived sika deer (Cervus nippon) on the survival of subalpine conifers (Abies spp.) in a Betula ermanii forest in central Japan. Abies spp. which currently occur at lower elevations than B. ermanii but are predicted to expand to higher elevations with climate change, were less abundant than B. ermanii on Mt. Kita, central Japan, and were preferred by sika deer for bark stripping. The ratio of the number of stripped Abies stems to the total number of stripped stems was unrelated to elevation. Because of the lower dominance of Abies spp. at higher elevations, bark-stripping pressure on them would be stronger there. Both bark stripping by deer and competition (intra- and interspecific) contribute to the death of Abies spp. Our results suggest that bark-stripping herbivores can be an important contributing factor hampering upward range shifts of Abies spp.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15230430.2024.2447631Cervus nippondebarkingfirupward range shift
spellingShingle Takuo Nagaike
Hayato Iijima
Regeneration of subalpine conifer species is inhibited by bark-stripping deer in a Betula forest
Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research
Cervus nippon
debarking
fir
upward range shift
title Regeneration of subalpine conifer species is inhibited by bark-stripping deer in a Betula forest
title_full Regeneration of subalpine conifer species is inhibited by bark-stripping deer in a Betula forest
title_fullStr Regeneration of subalpine conifer species is inhibited by bark-stripping deer in a Betula forest
title_full_unstemmed Regeneration of subalpine conifer species is inhibited by bark-stripping deer in a Betula forest
title_short Regeneration of subalpine conifer species is inhibited by bark-stripping deer in a Betula forest
title_sort regeneration of subalpine conifer species is inhibited by bark stripping deer in a betula forest
topic Cervus nippon
debarking
fir
upward range shift
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15230430.2024.2447631
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AT hayatoiijima regenerationofsubalpineconiferspeciesisinhibitedbybarkstrippingdeerinabetulaforest