Are ungulates in forests concerns or key species for conservation and biodiversity? Reply to Boulanger et al. (DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13899). (10th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fløjgaard, Camilla; Bruun, Hans Henrik; Hansen, Morten D.D.; Heilmann‐Clausen, Jacob; Svenning, Jens‐Christian; Ejrnæs, Rasmus
• Is Part Of: Global change biology. Volume 24:Number 3(2018)
• Page Start: 869
• Page End: 871
• Publication Date: 2018-01-10
• Subjects: Climatic changes -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Troposphere -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Biodiversity conservation -- Periodicals; Eutrophication -- Periodicals; 551.5
• DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14029
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1354-1013

Abstract

Abstract : Increasing species richness of light demanding species in forests may not be a conservation concern if we accept a macroecological and evolutionary baseline for biodiversity. Most of the current biodiversity in Europe has evolved in the Pleistocene or earlier, and in ecosystems markedly influenced by dynamic natural processes, including grazing. Many threatened species are associated with high‐light forest environments such as forest glades and edges, as these have strongly declined at least partially due to the decline of large herbivores in European forests. Hence, moderate grazing in forests should be an ecological baseline and conservation target rather than a concern.