Impediments affect deer foraging decisions and sapling performance

Impediments, such as tree logs, can prevent access to saplings for deer, and increase perceived predation risk by blocking view escape possibilities deer in areas with large carnivores. Therefore, impediments influence foraging decisions the trade-off between safety food of different quality indirectly influencing regeneration. The aim our study was test how presence an impediment affects behavior sapling performance eight species that differ preference deer. We planted without, nearby inside followed their fate three consecutive years Białowieża forest, Poland. constructed 1 m high 5 × would still allow enter forage from inside. However, we never recorded impediments. Near visitation rate cumulative time reduced. As a result, browsing intensity all lower especially impediment. Deer did not select near or Due overall intensity, increased height heights significantly within palatable, but intolerant, Acer platanoides benefited most this highly selected heavily browsed without Followed more browse tolerant Tilia cordata Pyrus pyraster. In comparison, had smaller effect on less preferred Alnus glutinosa, Picea abies Pinus sylvestris which survived well Our showed modified they visited these plots frequently thereby reduced impact species. potential successful recruitment is higher impediment, when surrounded structures. long-term, natural like logs allows intolerant browsing, ultimately leading diverse forest composition.