Lynn Christenson – Vassar College VMC Meeting December 2016

1. The Environmental Monitoring and Management Alliance (EMMA) and White-tailed Deer Monitoring for Management Lynn Christenson – Vassar College VMC Meeting December 2016

2. Who we are EMMA is a network of scientists, land managers and educators centered in the Hudson Valley of New York State. This group is dedicated to the use of research-based monitoring to inform management and conservation efforts.

3. Deer like low mixed woodlands, forest edges, agriculture fields and second growth areas. Residential areas are now very desirable to deer.

4. Symptoms of high deer density: • Decreased understory species diversity • Lack of forest regeneration • Increased abundance of invasive species • Frequent sightings of deer

5. Ungulate Herbivores and Nutrient Cycling • Herbivores can have both direct and indirect effects on nutrient cycling: Direct Effect Changes in foliar N content Indirect Effect Change in plant community composition Selective browsing on preferred species Browsing/grazing pressure Urine and feces Urine and feces 1.8% N 1.5% N 0.6% N 1% N

6. Trophic structure of a decomposer community Trophic level Food Resources 3° Predators 2° Predators 2° Predators 1° Predators 1° & 2° decomposers 1° Predators 2° Decomposers Shredded litter & microorganisms 1° Decomposers Litter Chart adapted from Scheu (2002)

7. Management GoalsReducing Deer Density • Primary Goals: Ecosystem • Allow forest regeneration. • Promote biodiversity. • Maintain ecosystem function. • Secondary Goals: People • Reduce deer/car collisions • Reduce damage to ornamental landscape • Reduce tick borne diseases • Provide food to local food pantries.

8. Deer ExclosuresExperimental Design • 3 sets of paired plots in forested areas • 5 one meter square permanent quadrats • Treatments randomly assigned • Fenced treatment enclosed in an 8 foot tall deer fence < 5 m buffer > 10 m 10 m 10 m 10 m Fenced Unfenced

9. Vegetation Sampling Seedlings and Herbs Seedling Height: 0 – 0.5 m Sample: species, height Permanent Quadrat Saplings Height: 0.5 - 2 m Sample: species, browse, height Trees Height: > 2 m Sample: species, height, dbh, canopy die back

10. Deer Exclosures 2012 • Regeneration rates are low at our site. • Deer are having a negative impact on tree regeneration and species richness. p<0.005 p<0.05 p<0.1 Values are means ± SE.

11. Long Term Deer Exclosure Results Hunting Bucks only No Hunting

12. Leaf litter invertebrates evaluated summer 2012

13. Developing Management Recommendations • Fertility Control/ Sterilization • Fence • Controlled Access Archery • Sharp shooting over bait

14. Implementation Mixed Public Response Permitting -Discharge a firearm from a vehicle -City firearms ordinance Sharp shooting -64 deer in two nights. Venison Donation -10,000 meals provided.

15. Public Response

16. EMMA managers compare and contrast deer management efforts at their locations

17. EMMA experience across the Hudson Valley can inform management decisions at other locations in this area.

18. EMMA can provide support for management decisions through information access

19. EMMA provides workshop and meeting opportunities

20. VMC and data management for EMMA Partnering with VMC – More than just data storage…

21. Questions?