Using Shrubs as Nurse-plants to Reduce Browsing and Rubbing Damage by Roe Deer: An Experimental Approach

ABSTRACT We conducted a field experiment to evaluate the effectiveness of neighboring vegetation to protect cherry-wood (Prunus avium) saplings against roe deer browsing and rubbing, and determine whether this protection varies according to the attractiveness of – and the physical barrier provided by – a variety of nurse shrubs. Our results show that nurse shrubs may delay roe deer browsing and rubbing on highly attractive cherry-wood saplings, even in a situation of high deer density. The most obstructing shrubs at roe deer knee to shoulder height (Populus x canescens and Cytisus scoparius) appeared to be efficient barriers, whereas the spiny shrub (Elaeagnus angustifolia) did not protect saplings more efficiently than thornless species. Yet, obstruction appeared to be less effective against browsing when the nurse species was itself browsed (Cornus sanguinea and Alnus cordata). Since roe deer may help to reduce plantation cleaning through the control of the shrub layer, especially brambles, we argue that natural methods of protection using surrounding vegetation should represent an economic and sustainable alternative to artificial protection of saplings.