The Effect of Rabbit Herbivory on Reforestation of Abandoned Pasture in Southern Costa Rica
background
This study considers how mammalian seedling herbivory may limit forest seedling growth abandonded pasture in southern Costa Rica.
Research Goals & Methods
Trees were planted in open pasture and under remnant pasture trees of Inga edulis and Inga punctata.
Conclusions & Takeaways
Of the seedlings, 64% had rabbit damage and only 26% survived at two years after planting. Seedings cut by rabbits had lower growth rates than uncut seedlings. Sideroxylon pororicense seedlings that were cut by rabbits had higher height growth in areas under remnant trees that other species. The author recommends larger spatial and temporal studies to evaluate the effect of rabbit herbivory on restoration of tropical forest.
Reference:
. The effect of rabbit herbivory on reforestation of abandoned pasture in southern Costa Rica. Biological Conservation. 1999;87:391–395. doi:10.1016/s0006-3207(98)00051-2.
Affiliation:
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
- Centro para la Biología de la Conservación, San Vito, Coto Brus, Costa Rica