The authors used demographic methods to determine whether increased rates of leaf elongation occur in two sedges, Carex subspathacea and Carex x flavicans, when heavily grazed by lesser snow geese (Chen caerulescens caerulescens). This comparison was made by using paired plots, one grazed and one ungrazed. Leaves were marked and measured throughout the summer growing season. Older leaves had a slower rate of leaf elongation. However, there were no consistent significant differences between the leaf elongation rates in grazed and ungrazed plants for either Carex species. Although, grazed leaves may continue to elongate at rates similar to ungrazed leaves, replacement of the aboveground tissue removed by geese primarily occurs through enhancement of production of new leaves.
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