• Research Paper on:
    Forests, Forest Growth, and the Effects of Deer

    Number of Pages: 7

     

    Summary of the research paper:

    In seven pages this paper discusses how the large deer population has negatively impacted forests and the growth of forests in the United States. Seven sources are cited in the bibliography.

    Name of Research Paper File: D0_MTdeerfo.rtf

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    Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
    the idea that a decline in one animal population can disrupt entire ecosystems. But skeptics point to the idea that some of the protective measures go a little too far.  During the 1990s, for example, a great deal of controversy surrounded a small population of Spotted Owls - while the conservationists got their way on that issue (preventing destructive building  from taking place on the land where Spotted Owl were sited), business officials claimed that such protectionism has a terrible economic impact. In addition, its been found that saving the  Spotted Owl has meant a decrease in the rodent population, which has allowed other populations to grow. Scientists are seeing a similar  problem as it pertains to the U.S. national forests. These last outposts of conservation feature a variety of tree species, as well as much flora and fauna. But the forests  are beginning to suffer a mortal enemy - not timber companies or real estate developers who want the land for homes. The white-tailed deer which, a century ago, was on  the verge of extinction, has come back with a roar. And while conservation efforts to save the deer were certainly well meant, these efforts are, unfortunately, undermining the growth of  forests. Study after study, as well as anecdote after anecdote, are pointing to the idea that as deer population increases, potential for forest regrowth slides downward.  In Wisconsin, for example, the hardwoods and other trees in the north woods are having trouble reproducing (Budiansky, 1994), the only trees remaining are those that  are 40 years or older (interestingly enough, during a period in which the deer were not so prevalent). This is also the case in the Fontenelle Forest in Nebraska - 

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