Fraying damages in the subalpin forest of Paneveggio (Trento, Italy): a dendroecological approach

In the forest of Paneveggio, in the last few years the increase in the density of Red deer (Cervus elaphus) and Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) has caused the appearance of considerable damage to forest regeneration. To gain an historical documentation of the presence of the two species 82 regeneration specimens damaged by fraying were cut down in August-September 1994. These specimens, 70 spruce (Picea abies), seven cembran pine (Pinus cembra) and five larch (Larix decidua), came from three areas of the forest used as rutting areas by Red deer. An analysis of the stems of these trees wits made by cutting a cross-section every 20 cm of height between 0 and 140 cm. In these cross-sections all damage from fraying was identified and dated. The fraying caused by Red deer was distinguished from that caused by Roe deer according to the diameter of the tree at the moment of damage, the height from the ground, and the overall extent of the damage. The presence in the last century of the two deer species has been documented.