Fenced Plots Show Deer Stop Tree Growth in New York Forest
Cornell researchers fenced deer out of six plots in New York and tracked them for 18 years. In open plots where deer could feed, woody plants fell by about half, while fenced plots kept growing trees. The study shows how grazing animals can shape forest cover over time.
Context
Context: Deer are a major browsing animal in eastern North American forests, and heavy feeding can stop young trees from growing up. Over long periods, this can change which plants and trees dominate a woodland.
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