Large amounts of deer can create human hazards such as blocking roadways and spreading disease. Not only this, but they can disrupt ecosystems by eating away at the habitats that many species rely on. In a new study published in Landscape and Urban Planning, researchers show that areas in the eastern U.S. with high deer numbers tend to have fewer birds that need forest shrubs. These bird species rely on food from insects while using shrubs as a hideout. However, these shrubs are often eaten by deer. The coastal region -- with as many as twenty-eight thousand droppings per hectare -- is where the study found significant correlations between deer and birds. I think this is important because many people are familiar with the fact that humans can negatively effect populations, but it is a rare occasion when we recognize that other animals can effect species' populations as well. This study suggests our land use practices that promote high deer numbers might be changing local ecosystems -- with implications for declining songbirds and the people who enjoy them. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170130224740.htm
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November 2016
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