The understory vegetation in a 4,08—acre tract of virgin hemlock—hardwood forest on the Allegheny National Forest in northwestern Pennsylvania was studied over a 20—year period by means of color and black—and—white photographs taken at 5—year intervals from 1942 to 1962. The declines which took place in the understory were believed to be caused by browsing by the resident white—tailed deer population. The deer herd, under very light hunting pressure, has depleted the browse supply and damaged advance reproduction of hemlock and hardwoods, preventing understory recovery during the 1942—62 period. Unless relieved, this continued browsing of the understory vegetation will eventually reduce and endanger the scientific and educational value of the area.
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A. F. Hough (1965) studied this question.