The Influence of Wild Ungulates on Forest Regeneration in an Alpine National Park

The browsing of wild ungulates can have profound effects on the structure and composition forests. In Swiss National Park, density ungulates, including red deer (Cervus elaphus), ibex (Capra ibex), chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), is exceptionally high due to strict protection absence large predators. We examined count data larch (Larix decidua), cembra pine (Pinus cembra), spruce (Picea abies), upright mountain mugo subsp. uncinata), ash (Sorbus aucuparia) four sampling years between 1991 2021, modelled how topographic location factors affected probability saplings larch, pine, spruce. Despite number young trees has increased over past 30 years. was highest for at a height 10–40 cm with increasing elevation. our study area, open grasslands are mainly located above tree line, which might explain positive correlation elevation browsing. Further, related exposition slope, diversity species, disturbance by humans. It appears that in investigated part potential forest regenerate despite densities ungulates.