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Population density of North American elk: effects on plant diversity

  • Plant-Animal Interactions - Original Paper
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Abstract

Large, herbivorous mammals have profound effects on ecosystem structure and function and often act as keystone species in ecosystems they inhabit. Density-dependent processes associated with population structure of large mammals may interact with ecosystem functioning to increase or decrease biodiversity, depending on the relationship of herbivore populations relative to the carrying capacity (K) of the ecosystem. We tested for indirect effects of population density of large herbivores on plant species richness and diversity in a montane ecosystem, where increased net aboveground primary productivity (NAPP) in response to low levels of herbivory has been reported. We documented a positive, linear relationship between plant-species diversity and richness with NAPP. Structural equation modeling revealed significant indirect relationships between population density of herbivores, NAPP, and species diversity. We observed an indirect effect of density-dependent processes in large, herbivorous mammals and species diversity of plants through changes in NAPP in this montane ecosystem. Changes in species diversity of plants in response to herbivory may be more indirect in ecosystems with long histories of herbivory. Those subtle or indirect effects of herbivory may have strong effects on ecosystem functioning, but may be overlooked in plant communities that are relatively resilient to herbivory.

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Acknowledgments

We appreciate the assistance of Starkey Project Personnel, numerous volunteers, and technicians who helped with most aspects of the study including sampling plants. We thank A. D. Sparrow for advice and help with structured equation modeling. This study was funded by the U.S. Forest Service, the Institute of Arctic Biology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science at University of Nevada Reno, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and the Department of Biological Sciences at Idaho State University. This is Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation contribution number 683. All aspects of this research were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (IACUC #01-34) and the Starkey Project; and were in keeping with protocols adopted by the American Society of Mammalogists for field research involving mammals (Animal Care and Use Committee 1998).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada Reno, 1000 Valley Rd/MS 186, Reno, NV, 89512, USA

    Kelley M. Stewart

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, 921 South 8th Avenue, Stop 8007, Pocatello, ID, 83209, USA

    R. Terry Bowyer & John G. Kie

  3. United States Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, 1401 Gekeler Lane, La Grande, OR, 97850, USA

    Brian L. Dick

  4. Institute of Arctic Biology and Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA

    Roger W. Ruess

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  1. Kelley M. Stewart
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Correspondence to Kelley M. Stewart.

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Communicated by Janne Sundell.

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Stewart, K.M., Bowyer, R.T., Kie, J.G. et al. Population density of North American elk: effects on plant diversity. Oecologia 161, 303–312 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-009-1376-z

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