Diversity and Mast Production Natural forest stands are composed of a variety of overstory tree species and understory shrub species. Species diversity protects forests from insect damage and disease. It also improves soil fertility, and is essential for providing wildlife with food and shelter. By understanding the importance of managing for a variety of plants, you are taking the first step towards maximizing your mast production.
Wildlife management has a rich history that traditionally focused mainly on game species.
Original food habit studies were conducted on hunter-harvested individuals. Although these data were quite informative, they represented the diets of animals in just the fall and winter seasons. Mast has been found to be consumed in all seasons, but not necessarily from the same plant species. Therefore, it is essential to manage a diversity of vegetation so that different types of mast will be available throughout the year. Examples of mast producers in different seasons are listed in Table 1 .