Deer simplify vegetation structure and reduce abundance of web-building spiders

In this study, we determined whether deer affected assemblages of web-building spiders. We examined web-building spider assemblages with and without deer, using a paired exclosure-control design in two regions of the northern hardwoods forest of the U.S.—the Allegheny Plateau of Pennsylvania and the Northern Highlands of Wisconsin—separated by approximately 1000 km. We surveyed webs and vegetation to determine the degree to which deer alter the abundance and composition of a web-building spider guild.