How does “herbivory and land degradation caused by feral deer” affect biodiversity?
The Scientific Committee has identified a number of threatened plant species and ecological communities that are affected by herbivory and land degradation caused by feral deer. Here are some examples: • Research on the impacts of feral deer in Royal National Park by the University of Western Sydney has shown that the endangered Sutherland Shire littoral rainforest has 70 per cent less understorey plant species at locations of high deer density, compared to low deer density locations. • In other research, the University of Wollongong has shown that deer have major impacts on endangered Sydney freshwater wetland communities in Royal National Park. As an example of the impacts deer are having on the wetland, 75 per cent of the stems and foliage of the threatened plant species, Syzygium paniculatum, was removed by deer. S. paniculatum is a rare plant species restricted to littoral rainforests. • Deer populations around Port Macquarie have been implicated in the trampling and browsing of r
