Abstract:
Anthropogenic eutrophication of ecosystems is an important driver of biodiversity loss. Even protected areas (PAs) may be impacted by anthropogenic
nutrients, for example, from atmospheric deposition or the provision of supplementary feeding. However, the resultant nutrient patterns, and the role of local
wildlife in shaping them, remain poorly understood. We investigated anthropogenic influences on the role that red deer (Cervus elaphus) play in the nutrient balance of a PA in Denmark. We used habitat selection modeling and
theoretical scenarios where we varied the proportion of energy the deer
obtained from supplementary versus natural forage and compared it with the
nutrients removed due to hunting. We show that the movement and distribution of the red deer population within the PA are very heterogeneous and
likely influenced by the need for shelter. Moreover, depending on their reliance on supplementary feeding, deer can potentially import large amounts of
nutrients to the PA, and concentrate them in localized hotspots. However, we
also explore the potential for nutrient loss due to hunting activities. Such indirect anthropogenic impacts on nutrient landscapes may counteract restoration
and conservation efforts. We therefore recommend incorporating anthropogenic influences on zoogeochemistry and the animal-mediated connectivity
between PAs and anthropogenically dominated landscapes into future management plans.
