The authors investigated the growth response of beaked hazel (Corylus cornuta) at four sites within Elk Island National Park, with and without grazing, at the plant and community levels, to determine the impact of ungulate browsing on this species. Plant responses to protection from grazing depended on the site. The number of leaves and length of twigs increased at two sites, while the number of twigs, but not twig length, increased at one site; no difference were detected at the fourth site. This suggests that other factors, specific to each site, such as environmental conditions and competition, were affecting beaked hazel growth once grazing pressure was removed. At the community level, shrub height increased by 40% in the absence of grazing, but canopy cover and all other vegetation measures were not affected. The results from this study indicate beaked hazel can recover from long term browsing at the plant level and that the potential for recovery may depend on individual site conditions. Determining which factors are limiting will require further study.
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