Grazing strategy of the european bison, red deer and roe deer

Abstract

All herbivorous hoofed animals are divided in accordance to their influence on vegetation: grazers, mix-feeders and browsers. These groups of herbivorous provide formation of highly productive and het-erogeneous ecosystems. For the purpose of defining of hoofed animals to this or that group researches on two experimental plots of “Naliboksky” reserve were conducted. The researches were held by character and duration of grazing photofixation. As a result of researches it was confirmed, that the roe deer is a typical browser, bison and red deer are mix-feeders. Also it was found out that phytomass withdrawal on forest meadows by these species is minimal, and doesn't lead to degradation of forest meadows, as well as doesn’t utilize all growth gain of vegetation. It leads to accumulation of vegetation on meadows and to gradual reduction of their fodder. Restoration of hi ghly productive forest meadows and maintenance of heterogeneity in forest ecosystems requires installation of grazer sp ecies of herbivorous.