Common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) invasion exacerbates white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) browsing on native woody plants

Selective feeding by overabundant herbivores can considerably alter plant community composition and structure, often benefiting non-native species. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are a dominant herbivore in North America, known for their preference for native plants over unpalatable invasive species. Common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), a widely invasive shrub, is largely avoided by deer, potentially facilitating its competitive advantage against native plants. This study investigates the interactive effects of buckthorn invasion and deer browsing on native woody plants within a post-industrial urban forest undergoing restoration. Specifically, we employed both a long-term observational tree survey and an experimental shrub study to assess buckthorn impacts on native trees and shrubs, and to investigate whether buckthorn presence intensifies deer browsing. For the tree study, we surveyed ten native tree species planted in areas with varying levels of buckthorn invasion to ..., , # Common buckthorn (*Rhamnus cathartica*) invasion exacerbates white-tailed deer (*Odocoileus virginianus*) browsing on native woody plants

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.wstqjq2zp](10.5061/dryad.wstqjq2zp)

## Description of the data and file structure

### Tree survey 
#### File: Tree.Dryad.csv

Ident = individual line number

Spp = tree species

* ACRU = *Acer rubrum*

* ACSA = *Acer saccharinum*

* CAOV = *Carya ovata*

* CEOC = *Celtis occidentalis*

* JUCI = *Juglans cinerea*

* PODE = *Populus deltoides*

* PLOC = *Platanus occidentalis*

* QUBI = *Quercus bicolor*

* SANI = *Salix nigra*

* TIAM = *Tilia americana*

Unit = Tifft area where planted

Shelter = sapling protection type

Survey data = when the survey was conducted

Status = alive (1) or dead (0)

Rating = ordinal health rating

* 0 = dead

* 1 = least healthy

* 2 = less than average health

* 3 = average

* 4 = more than average

* 5 = most healthy

Buckthorn_Cover = percent cover 1 m2 circle surround...,