Indicateur écologique; sous-bois; forêt tempérée; balance de la nature; appétabilité; Cervus elaphus; régénération; ongulés; Indicators; understory vegetation; temperate forest; balance of nature; palatability; regeneration; ungulate
Abstract :
[en] During the last decades, the populations of large herbivores have increased. Consequently, their pressure on forest vegetation has been exacerbated and has reached in some forests levels that reduced the diversity of forest ecosystem services. Assessing the balance between timber production and hunting remains a crucial question for forest users (foresters, hunters) and requires reliable tools such as ecological indicators. This paper reviews the ecological indicators that characterize the pressure of red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) on understory vegetation in temperate deciduous forest. Such indicators monitor the cover, height, stem density, biomass and species diversity of different indicator plant groups. These plant groups embrace species belonging to herbaceous stratum, forest regeneration or particular species such as bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) and bramble (Rubus fruticosus L.). The choice of indicator plants, as it affects considerably the performance of the ecological indicator of deer pressure on understory vegetation, must be carried out with caution taking into account plant abundance and palatability. The reviewed indicators help to understand the relationships between biodiversity, carrying capacity and deer populations. They are intended to forest managers that would like to monitor red deer pressure in regards to forest management goals and forest sustainability. [fr] L’augmentation des populations des grands herbivores au cours de ces dernières décennies affecte de plus en plus la végétation forestière et peut ainsi compromettre la gestion multifonctionnelle des forêts. Afin d’évaluer et de surveiller l'état de cet équilibre sylvo-cynégétique, le gestionnaire doit disposer d'informations fiables sur les objectifs préalablement fixés. Les indicateurs écologiques constituent en ce sens des outils privilégiés pour estimer et suivre cet équilibre. Le présent article propose une revue critique des indicateurs écologiques publiés dans la littérature et utilisés pour caractériser la pression du cerf élaphe (Cervus elaphus L.) sur la végétation du sous-bois en forêt tempérée décidue. Les paramètres de la végétation du sous-bois susceptibles de servir d’indicateurs de changements écologiques sont le recouvrement, la hauteur moyenne, la densité de tiges, la biomasse et la diversité spécifique. Le choix des indicateurs est ensuite discuté en relation avec les plantes indicatrices à partir desquelles ils sont calculés. Certains paramètres sont associés à une ou plusieurs espèces alors que d’autres à l’ensemble de la végétation du sous-bois.Ces plantes appartiennent à la strate herbacée, à la régénération forestière ou encore à certaines espèces particulières telles que la myrtille (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) et la ronce commune (Rubus fruticosus L.). L’influence de l’appétence sur le choix des plantes indicatrices est également examinée. Ces indicateurs permettent de mieux appréhender les relations entre la biodiversité, la capacité d’accueil du milieu et les populations de cervidés. Par ailleurs, en les confrontant avec les objectifs sylvicoles préalablement fixés, ils constituent pour les gestionnaires forestiers de précieux outils permettant de suivre l’état d’équilibre sylvo-cynégétique.
Disciplines :
Life sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others Environmental sciences & ecology
Author, co-author :
Lehaire, François ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Forêts, Nature et Paysage > Gestion des ressources forestières et des milieux naturels
Ligot, Gauthier ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Forêts, Nature et Paysage > Gestion des ressources forestières et des milieux naturels
Morelle, Kevin ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Forêts, Nature et Paysage > Gestion des ressources forestières et des milieux naturels
Lejeune, Philippe ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Forêts, Nature et Paysage > Gestion des ressources forestières et des milieux naturels
Language :
French
Title :
Les indicateurs de la pression du cerf élaphe sur la végétation du sous-bois en forêts feuillues tempérées : synthèse bibliographique
Alternative titles :
[en] The indicators of red deer pressure on understory vegetation in temperate deciduous forests: A review
Publication date :
2014
Journal title :
Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement
ISSN :
1370-6233
eISSN :
1780-4507
Publisher :
Presses Agronomiques de Gembloux, Gembloux, Belgium
Volume :
18
Issue :
2
Pages :
262-272
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Name of the research project :
ACCORD-CADRE DE RECHERCHE ET VULGARISATION FORESTIERES 2009-2014
Funders :
SPW DG03-DGARNE - Service Public de Wallonie. Direction Générale Opérationnelle Agriculture, Ressources naturelles et Environnement
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