Journal Title
Title of Journal: Plant Ecol
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Abbravation: Plant Ecology
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Publisher
Springer Netherlands
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Authors: Natasha K Sims Elizabeth A John Alan J A Stewart
Publish Date: 2014/08/19
Volume: 215, Issue: 12, Pages: 1409-1416
Abstract
Species reintroduction programmes should include consideration of potential impacts on key species in the recipient community Wild boar Sus scrofa have been reintroduced into Britain after a 700year absence There is an urgent need to understand how this ecosystem engineer will affect plant communities in the habitats that it invades We investigated the impact of rooting by wild boar on bluebells Hyacinthoides nonscripta a species that is highly valued for its impressive floral displays and is an important and legally protected component of the UK forest flora We monitored bluebell performance over three growing seasons in woodland habitats that are routinely rooted by boar in southern England H nonscripta cover and reproductive performance were monitored in smallscale experimental exclosures to exclude boar compared to open control plots set up on areas that either had or had not been previously rooted Immediate effects were that rooting significantly reduced the percentage cover and density of H nonscripta plants by up to 95 and 60 respectively and also adversely affected the number of flowering stems However there was evidence that cessation of rooting brought about by excluding the boar enabled substantial recovery in percentage cover and the density of flowering stems within 2 years A positive effect of rooting on germination may have assisted this recovery Thus the impact of wild boar rooting on bluebell populations is locally severe but there is potential for rapid recovery if plants are protected Longterm effects of sustained or frequently repeated rooting still need to be investigatedWe are grateful to Cheryl Case Martin Goulding Sue Hartley Mike Hutchings Rupert Sims Noel Smith David Streeter and Martyn Stenning for various forms of assistance Claire Harkin and Fiona Ingleby gave useful advice on statistical analysis Steve Peters and John Stafford Forest Enterprise facilitated access to the land used for this study NKS was supported by a bursary from the University of Sussex
Keywords:
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