"White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), can be keystone herbivores in forest ecosystems and greatly impact forest conditions. Results of previous deer herbivory research could cause biologists concern when managing wetlands as suitable habitat for migratory waterfowl since high levels of herbivory can negatively impact plant communities. There is a knowledge gap on how deer use of wetland vegetation types may affect bird use of those same wetlands. Our objectives were to 1) evaluate white-tailed deer habitat suitability within a landscape dominated by wetlands, 2) quantify and compare use of wetland vegetation types by white-tailed deer to use by wetland bird communities, and 3) quantify white-tailed deer herbivory within various wetland types."--From abstract.
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