The burned area after the fire (above) and the deer exclosures set up to study how deer affect forest vegetation regeneration (click either image to enlarge).
One year ago, a brush fire swept through the northeast side of the Flint’s Pond conservation area (see the Lincoln Squirrel, June 7, 2015), leaving a large area with a clear understory and burned canopy trees—and also a unique habitat and opportunity to study forest regeneration.
After the fire, Lincoln’s Conservation Department was approached with a proposal for a research collaboration involving Wildands and Woodlands (an effort overseen by the nonprofit conservation organization Highstead in partnership with the Harvard Forest, Harvard University, and regional conservation and academic leaders).
As a result, walkers in the area today will see several fenced areas inside and outside the cleared area. These are ‟deer exclosures”— three boxed areas of high, welded-wire fence installed in the burn area and three outside the burn area. Six corresponding unfenced control plots were also established to yield comparative data over a five-year research period to assess the effects of deer grazing on forest vegetation regeneration.
“We’re excited about the prospect of observing these exclosures and of learning in a very tangible way about the effects of deer on our woods,” said Angela Kearney, Lincoln conservation planner.
This sounds like a great opportunity to gather information about the effect of deer on the woodlands.
Good work.