Burned and devoured-Introduced herbivores, fire, and the endemic flora of the high-elevation ecosystem on La Palma, Canary Islands

Irl, Severin D. H.Univ Bayreuth, BayCEER, Dept Disturbance Ecol, D-95447 Bayreuth, Germany (author)

Novel disturbance regimes (e.g., introduced herbivores and fire) are among the major drivers of degradation in island ecosystems. High-elevation ecosystems (HEEs) on islands might be especially vulnerable to these disturbances due to high endemism. Here, data from an 11-year exclosure experiment in the HEE of La Palma (Canary Islands) are presented where mammalian herbivores have been introduced. We investigate the combined effect of herbivory and fire on total species richness, seedling richness, and seedling establishment on the whole system and a subset of highly endangered species (target species). Total species richness, seedling species richness, and seedling establishment decreased with herbivory. Five out of eight target species were exclusively found inside the exclosures indicating the negative impact of introduced herbivores on endemic high elevation flora. Target species were generally affected more negatively by introduced herbivores and were subject to significantly higher browsing pressure, probably owing to their lack of defense strategies. A natural wildfire that occurred six years before data sampling substantially increased total species richness and seedling richness in both herbivory exclosure and reference conditions. We conclude that species composition of the HEE has been severely altered by the introduction of non-native herbivores, even though fire seems to have a positive effect on this system.

Steinbauer, Manuel J.Univ Bayreuth, BayCEER, Dept Biogeog, D-95447 Bayreuth, Germany (author)
Messinger, JanaUniv Bayreuth, BayCEER, Dept Biogeog, D-95447 Bayreuth, Germany (author)
Blume-Werry, GescheUmeå universitet,Institutionen för ekologi, miljö och geovetenskap,Univ Bayreuth, BayCEER, Dept Biogeog, D-95447 Bayreuth, Germany(Swepub:umu)gebl0003 (author)
Palomares-Martinez, AngelParque Nacl Caldera Taburiente, El Paso 38750, Spain (author)
Beierkuhnlein, CarlUniv Bayreuth, BayCEER, Dept Biogeog, D-95447 Bayreuth, Germany (author)
Jentsch, AnkeUniv Bayreuth, BayCEER, Dept Disturbance Ecol, D-95447 Bayreuth, Germany (author)
Univ Bayreuth, BayCEER, Dept Disturbance Ecol, D-95447 Bayreuth, GermanyUniv Bayreuth, BayCEER, Dept Biogeog, D-95447 Bayreuth, Germany (creator_code:org_t)

In:Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine research: Informa UK Limited46:4, s. 859-8691523-04301938-4246

By the author/editor: Irl, Severin D. ...; Steinbauer, Manu ...; Messinger, Jana; Blume-Werry, Ges ...; Palomares-Martin ...; Beierkuhnlein, C ...; show more...; Jentsch, Anke; show less...

About the subject

NATURAL SCIENCES: NATURAL SCIENCES; and Earth and Relate ...; and Physical Geograp ...

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