Project Description: National Capital Region parks have monitored vegetation responses to overabundant white-tailed deer populations for more than 30 years. Despite 2-13 years of deer population reductions, the regeneration of forest tree species in most parks remains below targets, indicating hidden interacting variables in the response of tree regeneration to deer removals. Indeed, many studies suggest that in addition to reducing deer density, it may be necessary to increase the light levels on the forest floor and remove other plants that, by their presence or abundance, cause decreased native forest biodiversity to achieve management goals.
The overarching goal of this proof-of-concept project is to build toward resilient ecosystems in parks and rehabilitate plant communities after long-term disturbance from overabundant white-tailed deer by actively shaping change using forest management under RAD (Resist, Accept, Direct) climate change framework. Our objective is to implement a program of on-the-ground active and adaptive management derived from recent, ongoing resource studies and years of deer and forest vegetation monitoring. We will use existing models of deer and forest vegetation interactions that are embedded into a decision-support tool. Catoctin Mountain Park has very low to medium resilient Natural Landscape Blocks, which are groupings of ecosystems. This project will support the at risk forest ecosystems to improve resilience to changing climatic conditions to increase and maintain biodiversity.
Management actions to be explored include the manipulation of existing and created canopy gaps, mechanical removal of shrubs in the understory that shade the forest floor, mechanical removal of recalcitrant herb layer plants that may suppress or inhibit tree seedling growth and planting bare rooted tree seedlings. The results of the gap manipulation BMPs will be transferable to other parks and conservation lands to help them achieve their deer and forest management objectives.
Lead Principal Investigator: Dr. Brian Underwood, SUNY, College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Donald Leopold, SUNY, College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Partner Institution: SUNY, College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Federal Agency: National Park Service
Federal Agency Technical Contact: Dr. Diane Pavek
Project Type: Research
Project Discipline: Natural Resources
Project Sub-Discipline: Biological (Ecology, Fish, Wildlife, Vegetation, T&E)
Start Year: 2023
End Year: 2028
Initial Funding Amount: $216,102.31
Federal Grant Number: P23AC01176
Location: Catoctin Mountain Park
National Park or Protected Area: Catoctin Mountain (NPS)
State(s): Maryland
Products Associated with this Project:
- No products found.