Direct and indirect effects of deer on nitrogen cycling processes and microbial communities in the forests of Haida Gwaii

Introduced non-native species are altering the ecology of natural communities at an unprecedented rate, threatening the services they provide, and becoming another driver of climate change. On the Canadian archipelago of Haida Gwaii in 1878, non-indigenous Sitka black-tailed deer were introduced, and in the absence of predators, deer populations have exploded, with detrimental impacts on native aboveground plant and animal communities. In comparison, knowledge on how deer affect belowground organisms and processes is lacking and needed, given the vital role soil organisms play in soil carbon storage and nutrient cycling and the consequent feedbacks to plant nutrition and growth. Deer may directly enrich soil through deposition of high quality litter and waste products. Conversely, their selective foraging increases the abundance of plants with lower quality litter, impacting soil productivity. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Susan Grayston

Student:

Partner:

Université de Montpellier (CEFE, CNRS)

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Globalink Research Award