An Adaptive Management Plan for Reducing White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Herbivory in Ottawa County Parks, MI

Presentation Type

Oral and/or Visual Presentation

Presenter Major(s)

Natural Resource Management

Mentor Information

Todd Aschenbach, aschenbt@gvsu.edu; Heather Rueth, ruethh@gvsu.edu

Department

Biology

Location

Kirkhof Center 1142

Start Date

13-4-2011 10:30 AM

End Date

13-4-2011 11:00 AM

Keywords

Environment

Abstract

White-Tailed Deer populations are causing significant changes to forested parks in Ottawa County, MI. Excessive deer herbivory of understory vegetation threatens to decrease biodiversity and eliminate ground cover for wildlife. I hypothesize that increased hunting pressure along with deer exclosures will decrease herbivory in Ottawa County. An adaptive management plan will be created that includes deer exclosures to inhibit herbivory along with follow-up monitoring of understory vegetation. Results will be used to make an effective deer control program for the DNRE that will restore understory biodiversity to the forested ecosystems in Ottawa County, MI.

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Apr 13th, 10:30 AM Apr 13th, 11:00 AM

An Adaptive Management Plan for Reducing White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Herbivory in Ottawa County Parks, MI

Kirkhof Center 1142

White-Tailed Deer populations are causing significant changes to forested parks in Ottawa County, MI. Excessive deer herbivory of understory vegetation threatens to decrease biodiversity and eliminate ground cover for wildlife. I hypothesize that increased hunting pressure along with deer exclosures will decrease herbivory in Ottawa County. An adaptive management plan will be created that includes deer exclosures to inhibit herbivory along with follow-up monitoring of understory vegetation. Results will be used to make an effective deer control program for the DNRE that will restore understory biodiversity to the forested ecosystems in Ottawa County, MI.