“Does size matter?” Poster supplement - Methods of an exclusion experiment

In order to understand how different herbivore guilds based on body size affect ecosystem processes, we designed an experimental setup in the Swiss Alps. Using differing mesh sizes we sequentially exclude large herbivores (ungulates), medium mammals (hare and marmots), small mammals (mice and voles) and small herbivores (invertebrates). The fencing method has the potential to change ecosystem parameters such as air humidity and temperature, soil moisture and temperature and light levels.

This is a supplement to go with the poster "Does size matter? Effects of herbivore exclusion on soil properties" presented at the British Ecological Society 2012 Annual Meeting in Birmingham between the 17th and 20th of December.