Landscape-Scale Impacts of Deer on Tree Ferns in South-Eastern Australia

Abstract

Tree ferns (order Cyatheales) are a key component of wet forests globally, providing critical forest understorey structure and ecosystem functions. Tree ferns may be impacted by ungulates in novel habitats, but the extent and severity of these impacts are often uncertain. We aimed to determine the impact of introduced deer on tree ferns in wet forests of south-eastern Australia. Using both broadscale deer abundance and impact surveys and targeted tree fern assessments, we surveyed browsing impacts on tree ferns at over 200 sites across a range of wet forest types in south-eastern Australia where deer are present. Tree fern species, plant height and estimates of foliage biomass removed by bro..