Publication Date

2023

Document Type

Book

Description

White-Tailed deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) are an overabundant species extremely prevalent in forests along the Northeastern Coast of America and other forested areas stretching westward. In this experiment, the effect of the overabundance of White-Tailed deer on palatable vegetation is tested through the use of a profiling board and the software imageJ, in which the vegetation that obscures the profiling board is quantified by the software and analyzed against a protected forest with less deer. The analysis of palatable vegetation on the forest understory is paramount in feeding other forest dwelling organisms that depend on this vegetation for sustenance. The browse habits of Odocoileus Virginianus degrade the availability of palatable plant life and promote the overgrowth of browse tolerant plant species that harm forest biodiversity to an even greater extent. The findings of this study may be indicative of future measures taken to maintain the deer population in northeastern forests.

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The Effect of the Overabundance of White-tailed Deer on the Availability of Palatable Vegetation in the Binghamton University Nature Preserve
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