GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF SILVER BIRCH, PEDUNCULATE OAK AND BEECH AS AFFECTED BY DEER BROWSING

Comparison of species abundance in fenced and non-fenced plots indicat ed a lower browsing-induced mortality for beech than for pedunculate o ak and silver birch. Comparison of saplings classified as browsed or u nbrowsed, showed that browsing reduced sapling size and changed above- ground biomass distribution (more branch biomass and less leaf biomass ). Generally, the effects of browsing did not differ between saplings regenerated under a forest canopy and saplings regenerated in large ga ps or in heathland and clearings. Differences in height and above-grou nd biomass between browsed and unbrowsed saplings were large for beech compared with silver birch and pedunculate oak. Differences in biomas s distribution between browsed and unbrowsed saplings were small for p edunculate oak compared with the other two species.