Long-term exclosure of sheep-grazing from an ancient wood: Vegetation change after a sixty-year experiment

Question: An ancient woodland site with a long history of coppicing and heavy grazing was protected from domesticated stock in 1955. Results of a vegetation-monitoring experiment were subsequently published in 1983. This study followed up the original research to investigate whether observed trends were as predicted. These included a shift in tree species composition in favour of shade-tolerant species, beech (Fagus sylvatica) and rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), at the expense of light-demanding birch (Betula spp.) and oak (Quercus petraea agg.), and progress towards a typical woodland ground flora. Location: Peak District National Park, United Kingdom. Methods: The mixed oak–birch woodland was re-surveyed in 2011. Two enclosures (1955 and 1980s) and an unenclosed control area were investigated. Overstorey structure and composition was assessed by measuring canopy openness and the girths of all trees and saplings. Herb layer species composition was also recorded in 28 vegetation plots. Results: We demonstrated a progressive decline in the number of mature oaks and birch in the old enclosure although they still regenerated successfully. Only a few individuals of beech and rowan appeared. Herb layer species composition differed between the subareas but since the 1980s, the temporal change in the old enclosure was negligible. The new enclosure followed a similar pattern in both canopy and herb layer as observed in the early years in the old enclosure. However, the control subarea had no regeneration of woody species and limited ground flora. Conclusions: After nearly 60 years, the replacement of light-demanding dominants by shade-tolerant trees was still limited, probably by low pH and stable light conditions. The findings are pertinent to the impacts of large herbivore grazing (domestic stock or wild) on woodland dynamics.     

Woody plant encroachment reduces species richness of herb‐rich woodlands in southern Australia

Abstract Woody plants have been increasing in many woodland and savanna ecosystems owing to land use changes in recent decades. We examined the effects of encroachment by the indigenous shrub Leptospermum scoparium (Myrtaceae) on herb‐rich Eucalyptus camaldulensis woodlands in southern Australia. Species richness and compositional patterns were examined under the canopy of L. scoparium and in surrounding open areas to determine the species most susceptible to structural changes. Richness was significantly lower in areas of moderate to high L. scoparium cover (>15%), suggesting that a threshold shrub cover caused major change in this ecosystem. Shrubs were associated with a significant reduction in above‐ground biomass of the ground‐layer flora and a significant shift in community composition. The few species that were positively associated with high L. scoparium cover were also common in the woodland flora; no new species were recorded under the shrub canopy. Important environmental changes associated with L. scoparium cover were decreased light availability and increased litter cover, which were likely a consequence of encroachment. Leptospermum scoparium cover was also associated with greater surface soil moisture, which may be a consequence of increased shading under the shrub canopy or indicate favourable soil conditions for L. scoparium establishment. Reductions in species richness and abundance of the germinable seed bank were found in soil samples taken from under L. scoparium. With ongoing recruitment of L. scoparium and consequent increases in shrub cover, ground‐layer diversity in these species‐rich woodlands should continue to decline over time.     

Optimal management of the rare Gladiolus imbricatus in Estonian coastal meadows indicated by its population structure

Questions: What is the best grassland management regime for the threatened plant species Gladiolus imbricatus; is the stage structure of local populations a feasible indicator of the effect of changed management. Location: Coastal meadow system in southwestern Estonia. Methods : The effect of five management regimes was studied in a long‐term (three‐year) field experiment: (1) mowing in late July, (2) grazing by cattle, (3) grazing by sheep, (4) sheep grazing during the first year and mowing during subsequent years, (5) no management (control). Results: The population density increased significantly in response to the mowing treatment and to the mowing after sheep grazing treatment. The proportion of grazed plant individuals was higher in the sheep‐grazed than in the cattle‐grazed treatment. Generative and vegetative adult individuals of G. imbricatus were significantly more damaged by cattle herbivory than juveniles. All management regimes shifted the population structure towards a dynamic state where juvenile stages dominate, while the not managed control retained a regressive population structure. Conclusions: Population stage structure was a useful indicator of different management conditions, even in the case where population density did not differ. As indicated by population stage structure, the best management regime for G. imbricatus was either mowing in late July only, or alternation of grazing and mowing in different years.     

Changes in the ground flora in Wytham Woods,southern England from 1974 to 1991 – implications for nature conservation

Abstract. The ground flora (vascular plants < 2 m high, excluding trees and shrubs) was recorded in 1974 and 1991 from 163 permanent 10 m x 10 m plots arranged on a systematic grid across Wytham Woods, near Oxford (UK). The Woods cover about 320 ha, are predominantly deciduous, but of varying ages and management types. The total number of species found (173, 167 respectively), the mean richness per plot (16.7, 17.2) and the breakdown of the species list between different species types (ancient woodland indicators, other woodland species, non‐woodland species) showed no significant differences between 1974 and 1991, but mean ground cover declined from 80% to 64%. Ancient woodland indicators as a group showed less change between the years than species associated with the open glades and grassland patches in the wood. Some species increased in frequency across the woodland including Arum maculatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Deschampsia cespitosa and Poa trivialis; while others such as Ajugareptans, Angelica sylvestris and Circaea lutetiana declined. Mean cover of Rubus fruticosus per plot declined from 35% to 6% and of Mercurialis perennis from 32 to 24%. More species were lost from plantations than from semi‐natural stands. The results are based on only two times, so inferences on possible causes must be drawn with caution. However the results are consistent with the effects of (1) the changing conditions associated with stand growth, particularly in the plantations, and (2) an increase in browsing/grazing by deer. No evidence was found for an effect of changing soil nitrogen levels on the vegetation. Changes in the ground flora as well as the woody layers, and in managed as well as unmanaged stands should be monitored, if nature conservation objectives are to be met.     

Restoration of Hydrastis canadensis: Experimental Test of a Disturbance Hypothesis After Two Growing Seasons

This paper tests the hypothesis that disturbance simulation is beneficial for restoration of Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal) 2 years after a disturbance event. This takes into account possible delay in resource allocation to reproduction. At five deciduous woodland sites in Ontario, Canada, three disturbance simulation treatments, fertilization, soil turnover, fertilization + soil turnover, and a control were randomly applied to experimental blocks in 1999. Seeds and mature rhizomes were transplanted into each treatment plot. Seed production and seedlings were recorded in 2001. Transplants were measured and flowers and fruit recorded in 2000 and 2001. Soil turnover and fertilization + soil turnover significantly increased the production of flowers and fruit in the second year after disturbance, contrasting with lack of significance in the first year. The effect on plant size was opposite, with significantly increased cover in the first year but not the second. Soil turnover + fertilization significantly increased seed production. The disturbance treatments did not have a significant effect on number or presence of seedlings possibly due to extraordinary drought conditions. Consideration of second‐year results strongly suggests that (1) substrate disturbance, in addition to canopy gaps, is an important factor in woodland herb ecology; (2) certain woodland herbs may be rare due to lack of specific disturbances which were more prevalent in the past; and (3) mature woodlands may require management, involving disturbance simulation, for the protection and restoration of certain rare woodland flora.     

Effects of the common cormorant,phalacrocorax carbo,on evergreen forests in two nest sites at Lake Biwa,Japan

The effects of the habitation of the common cormorant on vegetation were evaluated in two colonies in Lake Biwa, central Japan. The state of the vegetation of each colony was classified arbitrarily into the following three types according to the appearance of the tree, shrub and herb layers; dense tree layer (Type 1), sparse tree layer and herb layer (Type 2), and sparse tree layer with dense herb layer (Type 3). The density of cormorant nesting was almost similar among the three types, except for part of Type 2. Trees, especially large ones on which cormorants nested, were found to be heavily damaged, and there were few seedlings and saplings found under the canopy trees.Chamaecyparis obtusa andCryptomeria japonica were more heavily damaged than other evergreen and deciduous trees. In the herb layer, only a few species such asReynoutria japonica orPhytolacca americana were abundant. These results suggest that the habitation of cormorants could simplify the structure and the species composition of forests.     

Resilience of a high‐conservation‐value,semi‐arid grassland on fertile clay soils to burning,mowing and ploughing

In grassland reserves, managed disturbance is often necessary to maintain plant species diversity. We carried out experiments to determine the impact of fire, kangaroo grazing, mowing and disc ploughing on grassland species richness and composition in a nature reserve in semi‐arid eastern Australia. Vegetation response was influenced by winter–spring drought after establishment of the experiments, but moderate rainfall followed in late summer–autumn. Species composition varied greatly between sampling times, and the variability due to rainfall differences between seasons and years was greater than the effects of fire, kangaroo grazing, mowing or disc ploughing. In the fire experiment, species richness and composition recovered more rapidly after spring than autumn burning. Species richness and composition were similar to control sites within 12 months of burning and mowing, suggesting that removal of the dominant grass canopy is unnecessary to enhance plant diversity. Two fires (separated by 3 years) and post‐fire kangaroo grazing had only minor influence on species richness and composition. Even disc ploughing caused only a small reduction in native richness. The minor impact of ploughing was explained by the small areas that were ploughed, the once‐off nature of the treatment, and the high degree of natural movement and cracking in these shrink‐swell soils. Recovery of the composition and richness of these grasslands was rapid because of the high proportion of perennial species that resprout vegetatively after fire and mowing. There appears to be little conservation benefit from fire, mowing or ploughing ungrazed areas, as we could identify no native plant species dependent on frequent disturbance for persistence in this grassland community. However, the ability of the Astrebla‐ and Dichanthium‐dominated grasslands to recover quickly after disturbance, given favourable seasonal conditions, suggests that they are well adapted to natural disturbances (e.g. droughts, fire, flooding and native grazing).     

Scots pine growing on forested mires in Abernethy Forest,Strathspey, Scotland

Summary

A substantial proportion of the Abernethy Forest Reserve has Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) growing on the surfaces of a variety of mires. The hydrology of the mires has been affected by drainage and peat cutting but this area is unusual in having had a long period of protection from grazing by domestic stock. There are three main types of pine populations found on these mires. Woodland bog comprises predominantly bog vegetation with abundant pine seedlings due to the heavy seed rain from the surrounding woodland. Only a few very small trees survive, which are stunted, heavily diseased and have very low seed production. Wooded bog also comprises predominately bog vegetation but there are scattered mature trees of a moderate height with an open canopy. The trees are fertile and can form uneven aged stands with regeneration. Bog woodland is a predominantly woodland vegetation with tall, dense tree cover on deep peat. The trees are well grown with a dense canopy. A few remnants of bog vegetation remain in the ground flora although most have been replaced by woodland bryophytes and shrubs. Each of these three types is described and their development is discussed.     

Size-dependent sex allocation in a monocarpic perennial herb, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cardiocrinum cordatum</Emphasis> (Liliaceae)

The size-dependent sex allocation model predicts that the relative resource allocation to female function often increases with plant size in animal-pollinated plants. If size effects on reproductive success vary depending on the environmental conditions, however, the size dependency may differ among populations. We tried to detect site-specific variation in size-dependent sex allocation of a monocarpic hermaphrodite with reference to light availability. Multiple flowers and fruits were sampled from the individuals of Cardiocrinum cordatum, a monocarpic understory herb, and pollen, ovule and seed production were measured with reference to the plant size in two populations. Furthermore, frequency and foraging behavior of pollinator visitation was observed. Ovule production per flower increased with plant size in both populations, while pollen production per flower increased with size only in the population under sparse canopy. Therefore, proportional allocation to male function decreased with plant size in the population under closed canopy, but did not change in the population under sparse canopy. Pollinators usually visited only one flower per plant, indicating the negligible geitonogamous pollination in this species. Although seed production under closed canopy was lower than that under sparse canopy, seed-set rate per flower and seed mass per fruit were independent of plant size in either of the populations. Size-dependent sex allocation in this species was site-specific, suggesting that not only resource storage before reproduction (i.e., plant size) but also resource availability of environment throughout the reproductive process (i.e., light availability) affect reproductive performance in this species.     

Restorative mowing on an abandoned semi‐natural meadow: short‐term and predicted long‐term effects

Abstract. When management, in the form of cattle grazing and mowing, ceases the abundance of competitively superior plant species tends to increase in abandoned semi‐natural meadows. Litter accumulation elevates the soil nutrient levels and hinders seedling recruitment. We surveyed changes in plant cover and species composition of a formerly grazed meadow in permanent plots for six years. Some plots were unmown, while others were mown and raked annually in August. The cover of grasses decreased and herb cover remained unchanged regardless of the treatment. Mowing and raking significantly reduced litter accumulation and increased the number of ground layer species. The expected long‐term effects of abandonment and restorative mowing were studied by calculating the transition probabilities for unmown and mown plots and simulating the course of succession as projected by the transition matrices. During a simulation period of 30 yr, abandonment led to (1) a decrease in the cover of small herbs, (2) a slight increase in the cover of tall herbs and (3) a slight decrease in the cover of grasses. In contrast, the cover of small herbs on the mown plots remained unchanged or slightly increased during the course of simulation. These results suggest that mowing late in the season is primarily a management tool for the maintenance of the existing species diversity and composition. However, it may not be an effective restorative tool to induce overall changes in the resident vegetation of abandoned grass‐dominated meadows. Grazing or mowing early in the season may be more effective in this respect. Consequently, mowing early or, alternatively, late in the season may provide management strategies for the maintenance and restoration of species diversity, respectively.     

Effects of mowing frequency on densities of natural enemies in three Pacific Northwest pear orchards

Effects of mowing frequency on ground cover composition and on numbers of predators, parasitoids, and select phytophagous arthropods in the ground cover of three reduced‐insecticide pear orchards were determined. Concurrent samples taken in the tree canopy (with beating trays) and in the herbicide strips on the orchard floor (with pitfall traps) tested whether counts of natural enemies in these two habitats were also affected by mowing regime. A reduction in frequency of mowing from two to three times per month (= control) to once per month or once per growing season led to increased cover of grasses, broadleaf plants, and broadleaf plants in flower. Sweep net samples of natural enemies in the ground cover were dominated numerically by spiders (Araneae), parasitic Hymenoptera, and predatory Heteroptera, with lesser numbers of other taxa (Syrphidae, Neuroptera, Coccinellidae). Predators and parasitoids showed substantial increases in numbers associated with decreased mowing frequency. Sweep net counts of aphids, Lygus spp. (Heteroptera: Miridae), and leafhoppers/planthoppers, all potential prey of predators, also increased significantly with decreased mowing frequency. In the pitfall samples, only the European earwig (Forficula auricularia L.) (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) exhibited a change in counts associated with mowing treatment; numbers of earwigs in pitfall traps declined as mowing frequency decreased. For the beat tray samples, mean tray counts for most natural enemy taxa were higher in the less frequently mowed plots, but significantly (P < 0.05) so only for two taxa: spiders and a predatory mirid, Deraeocoris brevis (Uhler) (Heteroptera: Miridae). It remains to be determined whether biological control of pests in the tree canopy can be enhanced by manipulating mowing frequency. Questions raised by this study include whether there is extensive movement by natural enemies between the ground cover and tree canopy, and whether plot size affects the likelihood of showing that mowing frequency influences predator densities in the tree canopy.     

The impact of grazing and human disturbance on the dynamics of woodland in S. W. Ireland

Abstract. Pollen data from three mor humus profiles taken from within native woodland in the Killarney National Park are presented. The pollen records illustrate the woodland history over about 250 years. The dynamics of woodland on the mainland are compared with those of a small ungrazed lake island. Human disturbance of the woodland in the form of felling and burning is recorded at both locations. Following the disturbance, open vegetation predominated in which Arbutus unedo was widespread. This species declined as canopy woodland re-developed. The pollen records illustrate the dynamics of the developing woodland during which the role of Ilex aquifolium and Taxus baccata was strongly influenced by grazing. The past importance of Taxus baccata in western Irish woodland is considered.     

Restoration of a species‐rich fen‐meadow after abandonment: response of 64 plant species to management

Abstract. Eleven years of abandonment of a species‐rich fen‐meadow under undisturbed environmental conditions resulted in transformation into areas with tall herb‐, sedge‐ and rush‐dominated communities and areas with Alnus thicket. Species cover was measured in permanent plots in both community types and succession was monitored during 14 yr of restoration following reintroduction of management. The annual increase in accumulated species number followed a log‐log‐time linear regression during 10 yr of grazing management. The expected number of years taken before this annual rate was equal to annual extinction, i.e. a stable situation according to species density, was up to six. The response of 64 species to management was evaluated through paired statistical tests of changes in cover and frequency over time. In total, 55 species could each be allocated to one unique response model (monotone or non‐monotone, concave models) independently of the importance value used (cover or frequency) and type of management (grazing following felling or mowing and mowing without grazing). Species which increased in response to grazing had the most persistent seed banks and CR‐strategies, while species decreasing in response to grazing had less persistent seed banks and CS‐strategies. Some of the species which increased due to grazing followed a model with a local maximum in cover and frequency. The results are discussed in relation to management of species with high cover value during restoration succession.     

Application of multivariate methods to a study of community composition and structure in an escarpment woodland in northeast Ireland

Multivariate models based independently on the floristic and environmental attributes of sample quadrats from an escarpment woodland, were constructed. They were used to interpret the ecology of plant species distribution and to investigate the size structure of tree populations. Site instability, soil water status, and past management and grazing pressure were found to exert major influences on the composition and structure of the woodland. It is suggested that early mortality associated with site instability, plays an important role in maintaining the floristic diversity of vascular plants in the woodland ground flora, by increasing the frequency of tree replacement. This may have the effect of preventing canopy closure and any associated, detrimental effects of low light intensities. The relevance of the work of the conservation management of escarpment woods in Northern Ireland is discussed.     

Seed bank composition and above-ground vegetation in response to grazing in sub-Mediterranean oak forests (NW Greece)

We investigate the persistent soil seed bank composition and its relation to the above-ground flora of grazed and non-grazed sub-Mediterranean deciduous oak forests of NW Greece. Twenty-eight taxa were recorded in the soil seed bank and 83 taxa (70 taxa in plots of seed bank sampling) in the above-ground vegetation. The dominant tree species and many woodland species found in the above-ground vegetation were absent from the soil seed bank. Similarity between the soil seed bank and the above-ground vegetation decreased with grazing, and grazing led to a decrease of species richness in above-ground vegetation and soil seed bank. Beta diversity of vegetation among grazed and among non-grazed plots did not differ, but was significantly higher between grazed and non-grazed areas. Beta diversity of the soil seed bank declined with grazing. When applying classification tree and logistic regression analyses, non-grazed forest sites are clearly differentiated by the presence of Phillyrea latifolia, Euphorbia amygdaloides and Brachypodium sylvaticum. PCA ordination of above-ground species composition reflected a gradient from sites grazed by ruminants to non-grazed sites, but no clear structure was detected in the seed bank.     

Differential growth patterns and fitness may explain contrasted performances of the invasive <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus serotina</Emphasis> in its exotic range

This research investigates why the invasive American black cherry tends to dominate the forest canopy on well-drained, nutrient-poor soils, but usually hardly establishes on both waterlogged and calcareous soils in its exotic range. Prunus serotina was sampled from four soil types and two light conditions, to measure (1) radial growth; (2) height growth compared to the main native competitor, Fagus sylvatica; (3) leaf traits; (4) seed production; and (5) rate of fungal attack. We found that P. serotina invested a significant amount of energy in height growth and seed production on well-drained, nutrient-poor soils. These characteristics enabled it to rapidly capture canopy gaps and subsequently exert a mass effect on neighbouring stands. On moist soils, we found irregular growth patterns and high rates of fungal attack, while on calcareous soils, leaf traits suggested a low nitrogen assimilation rate, limiting the production of N-containing compounds. We conclude that P. serotina fails on waterlogged and calcareous soils because it is unable to allocate sufficient energy to fruiting and/or height growth. Conversely, it succeeds on well-drained, nutrient-poor soils because of high fitness which increases its invasiveness.     

Aboveground Biomass Removal by Burning and Raking Increases Diversity in a Reconstructed Prairie

Prescribed spring burning often contributes to a predominance of C₄ grasses and low forb abundance and is impractical at many sites, especially near development. We tested raking after mowing as an alternative to prescribed burning in a reconstructed Minnesota prairie. We also tested mowing without raking as a possible means of maintaining prairie communities. Frequency, flowering stem abundance, and cover were measured for all plant species and native functional groups (C₄ grasses, C₃ graminoids, forbs, legumes, and annual or biennial forbs). Mowing alone did not differ from the control in its effect on any functional groups of plants. Round‐headed bush clover (Lespedeza capitata), a legume, and Black‐eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), a biennial, increased in frequency with treatments that removed biomass (i.e., fire or raking), but they did not have significantly more flowering stems. Thus, new plants established well from seed, whereas the vitality of mature plants did not change. Raking had similar effects to burning on most functional groups, although flowering stems of C₄ grasses were significantly more abundant after fire than after raking. Burning reduced some C₃ forbs and grasses and favored the dominance of C₄ grasses. Therefore, raking after mowing in the spring provides an alternative to prescribed burning that has many of the same positive aspects as fire but does not promote aggressive C₄ grasses to the same extent.     

Fire frequency regulates tussock grass composition,structure and resilience in endangered temperate woodlands

Abstract The importance of disturbance for regulating the structure and diversity of grassy ecosystems is widely recognized, but disturbance‐mediated interactions between grassland composition and grassland resilience, and consequent implications for conservation management, are less well documented. We established replicated burning, mowing and (non‐livestock) grazing regimes in two contrasting grassy woodland remnants in south‐eastern Australia, and monitored the dynamics and resilience of the matrix‐forming tussock grasses, Poa sieberiana (Poa) and Themeda australis (Themeda), over 12 years. Introduction of frequent burning to a Poa‐dominated understorey in a rarely burnt woodland enhanced dominance by Themeda, and conversely, reduced fire frequency in a frequently burnt Themeda grassland substantially increased Poa abundance. Burning was potentially detrimental in the Poa‐dominated woodland, but sward resilience (recovery after the 2002 burn) increased as Themeda increased with repeated burning. By contrast, the Themeda grassland was resilient to 4‐ and 8‐yearly burning, but biennial burning led to poor resilience and high tussock mortality under drought conditions. Contrary to other mesic grasslands, cessation of burning had not caused sward collapse by 14 years post‐fire despite high litter accumulation, potentially due to compensatory growth of Poa, lower site productivity and drought. Biennial mowing without slash removal was similar to 4‐yearly burning in effects, while exclusion from kangaroo and rabbit grazing significantly increased sward biomass and contributed to increased Poa cover and inflorescence production. We conclude that functional complementarity associated with mixed dominants enhances resilience to variable disturbance regimes, and that below certain thresholds of abundance of each dominant, this resilience declines. Conservation management of Themeda–Poa ecosystems should thus aim to maintain an effective balance of these dominants.     

Vertical canopy structure of Dutch chalk grasslands in relation to their management

Analysis of leaf canopy overtopping relationships was carried out using a non-destructive point quadrat method followed by a destructive stratified harvest of the above-ground phytomass in Dutch chalk grasslands with different management: summer sheep grazing and annual autumn mowing. The two methods of analysis are compared: e.g. relative leaf overtopping can be recorded by the point quadrat method but it is obscured in vertical vegetation profiles based on stratified phytomass distribution. However the stratified harvest method describes the relationship between canopy phytomass and light microclimate, recorded by measuring Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) at different heights in the vegetation. Plant growth form during peak standing crop is of greater significance than Raunkiaerian life form in determining structure of chalk grassland vegetation. In annually mown grasslands, the tall graminoid growth form, shown by Brachypodium pinnatum, reduces PAR in the lower canopy and suppresses most other growth forms except those which can reach the higher canopy levels, e.g. clumped herbs such as Origanum vulgare. In contrast, grazing can result in a reduction of dominance from the tall graminoids and reduction of the abundance of taller, grazing-sensitive herbs, e.g. clumped and climbing herbs such as Origanum and Lathyrus pratensis, and an increase in grazing-tolerant species, e.g. smaller rosette herb growth forms, e.g. Leontodon hispidus and shorter rhizomatous or stoloniferous graminoids, e.g. Carex flacca and Briza media. Changes in both the overtopping hierarchy at the peak of the growing season and the intensity of overtopping in the course of a growing season are of conclusive importance in determining the relative abundance of species in the vegetation.     

Short-Term Effects of Cattle Browsing on Tree Sapling Growth in Mountain Wooded Pastures

Browsing by livestock has been identified as an important factor preventing tree regeneration in wooded pastures. Two field experiments were performed to investigate the effects of cattle browsing on tree sapling growth in a mountain-wooded pasture. Two size classes (ca. 12–17 cm and 41–59 cm) of each of 4 species (Picea abies, Abies alba, Acer pseudoplatanus and Fagus sylvatica) were exposed to zero, low and high grazing intensities. We measured the proportion of saplings browsed and the effect of browsing on growth. A mowing treatment within the zero grazing intensity treatment showed no significant effect on sapling growth. One percent of the large saplings but 25% of the small saplings escaped browsing. Saplings were better protected when surrounded by taller vegetation. The proportion of saplings browsed was not significantly different among species although evergreen tree saplings lost a larger proportion of biomass than deciduous species when browsed. Under grazing, average current-year shoot production and total aboveground biomass of all species were significantly reduced. Browsing effects tended to be smaller at the lower grazing intensity. Because the deciduous species were least reduced in aboveground growth, especially under the low grazing intensity, we conclude that at least in short-term, deciduous species are less affected by cattle browsing.