Acta Universitatis Sapientiae, Agriculture and Environment, 16 (2024) 109–116
Abstract. Our hypothesis was that the browsing damage caused by large herbivores in the seedling stage has a negative long-term impact on the quantity and quality of forest stands, trees, and timber. The data were collected in beech (Fagus sylvatica) stands in the Bükk Mountains, Hungary. In even-aged stands, affected by different levels of game damage after regeneration, sample and control plots were designated. The sampling method was those of quadrats within which all trees have been surveyed. Data from the areas affected by browsing and the control areas were compared. The results show that the number of trees in the forest area affected by browsing was significantly lower, and the number of forked and curved trunks was higher.
Keywords: ungulate browsing, browsing damage, shape defects, red deer, roe deer, mouflon
SAPIENTIA HUNGARIAN UNIVERSITY OF TRANSYLVANIA
The Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania is the independent university of the Hungarian community in Romania, which aims at providing education to the members of our community and performing scientific research on a high professional level.
Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania,
Scientia Publishing House
Acta Universitatis Sapientiae
RO 400112 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Str. Matei Corvin nr. 4.
Email: acta @ acta.sapientia.ro
