Abstract
In 1993, a representative network of 110 unfenced and fenced permanent plots was laid out within the biosphere reserve Schorfheide-Chorin (Brandenburg in NE Germany) for the monitoring of the influence of ungulates on the forest vegetation. Additionally to the sampling of vegetation in the herb layer in order to record the presence and abundance of species, also woody species are registered in all plots with respect to individual numbers and growth height (4 classes). After a first analysis of the data in 1996, the results obtained by the data gathered in 1999 are presented here. Analysed are the data of 80 pairs of permanent plots in total, differentiated in the stand types beech, oak, and pine. On the basis of the results from the unfenced and fenced plots, concerning the total cover of the vegetation layers, the mean species numbers, and the frequency of species and individuals of selected trees in the different growth height classes, the influence of ungulates on the forest vegetation is outlined and discussed. Considering species diversity, a positive influence of game is found for the herb layer and for tree species with growth heights < 70 cm, respectively. However, the results on the tree species with growth heights > 70 cm are similar to other investigations, which emphasize that heavy browsing pressure following excessive ungulate numbers have to be considered as one of the major problems of near-natural silviculture.