The protective effect of dwarf bamboo on broad-leaved seedlings against deer browsing

Abstract The forest understory is often densely covered by dwarf bamboo Sasa spp. in Hokkaido, northern Japan. Dwarf bamboo is an important winter forage for sika deer Cervus nippon, and dwarf bamboo inhibits forest regeneration by preventing seedling establishment. Although percentages of browsed seedlings are a useful index of deer browsing pressure, dwarf bamboo is also expected to affect browsing on seedlings by altering physical accessibility to seedlings. We hypothesized that the relationship between seedling height and browsing incidence depends on the coverage of dwarf bamboo because smaller seedlings were protected by dwarf bamboo. The incidence of browsing was recorded for broad-leaved seedlings ≥ 0.2 m in height and