Deer Browse Impact on Vegetation Regeneration: AVID

In 2017, Mohonk Preserve's Conservation Science team implemented a project to assess the browsing impact of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). 13 discrete sites were chosen for sampling based on specific criteria (<70% slope, <65% covered in exposed rock, <60% canopy and understory cover, and at least 30 stems of preferred browse species) and at each site, between 1-6 sampling plots were selected. Each plot was measured with a 6 ft. radius, and the center, along with the 4 cardinal directions, was marked using PVC pipe or rebar, dividing the plot into 4 quadrants for easier sampling. At least 30 woody seedlings were tagged at each site and are measured once per year. Plot descriptions are updated when significant changes are noted, or after 4 years. Plot description includes canopy, subcanopy, ground/shrub layer percent coverage, and a list of the most abundant species.

The protocol used was AVID (Assessing Vegetation for Impacts from Deer), a collaboration between authors Kristi L. Sullivan, Peter J. Smallidge, and Paul D. Curtis from the Department of Natural Resources at Cornell University, as well as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry. (AVID; https://aviddeer.com/about).

2017年，莫霍克保护区（Mohonk Preserve）的保护科学团队启动了一项旨在评估白尾鹿（Odocoileus virginianus）采食影响的研究项目。研究团队依据特定标准遴选了13处独立样地：坡度小于70%、裸露岩石覆盖占比小于65%、冠层与林下植被覆盖度小于60%，且至少包含30株偏好采食的木本植物。在每处样地内，选取1至6个采样样方；每个样方半径为6英尺，以PVC管或钢筋标记样方中心及四个正方位（东、南、西、北），将样方划分为四个象限以简化采样操作。每处样地至少标记30株木本幼苗，每年开展一次测量。当样方出现显著变化或每满4年时，更新样方描述信息。样方描述内容包括冠层、亚冠层、地面/灌丛层的覆盖百分比，以及优势物种名录。
本项目采用的调查规程为AVID（Assessing Vegetation for Impacts from Deer，鹿影响植被评估），由康奈尔大学（Cornell University）自然资源学院的克里斯蒂·L·沙利文（Kristi L. Sullivan）、彼得·J·斯莫利奇（Peter J. Smallidge）与保罗·D·柯蒂斯（Paul D. Curtis），联合纽约州环境保护部及纽约州立大学环境科学与林业学院共同制定（AVID；https://aviddeer.com/about）。