The influence of indirect effects of large herbivores on the life history and population dynamics of an unpalatable forest herb species

TL;DRAbstract

A main goal of evolutionary ecology is to understand how the biotic and abiotic variables with which a species interacts influence its life history and population dynamics. Herbivores can dramatically affect both the demography and life history evolution of their prey. However, herbivory may also indirectly affect the biotic and abiotic interactions of neighboring unpalatable plant species. While theory predicts co-occurring unpalatable plant species should benefit from the reduction of neighbors, how the indirect effects of herbivores influence both their population dynamics and life history remain largely unexplored. Using white-tailed deer as a model herbivore and Arisaema triphyllum as a model unpalatable plant species, I examined the indirect effects of herbivores on the population dynamics and life history traits of unpalatable plant populations. I used a combination of field surveys, experiments, and modeling techniques to determine how indirect effects could influence Arisaema

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