Influence of the density of a sika deer population on activity, habitat use, and group size

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (8) ◽  
pp. 1369-1374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakub Borkowski
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Sika Deer ◽  
Important Determinant ◽  
Cervus Nippon ◽  
High Density ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Related Group ◽  
Positive Effect

The influence of population density of sika deer (Cervus nippon) on their activity, habitat use, and habitat-related group size was studied in the area of Japan's Tanzawa Mountains in early winter. The percentage of active sika deer was higher in January 1994 (a low-density period) than in January 1995 (a high-density period). The pattern of habitat use differed between periods. During the high-density period, deer increased their relative use of lower quality habitats. A possible mechanism and implications of this are discussed. Changes in population density had a positive effect on group size in sika deer, though the variation among habitat types supported the hypothesis that food biomass is an important determinant of group size.

Habitat use and the coexistence of the sika deer and the Japanese serow, sympatric ungulates from Mt. Asama, central Japan

Mammalia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 84 (6) ◽  
pp. 503-511
Author(s):  
Hayato Takada ◽  
Riki Ohuchi ◽  
Haruko Watanabe ◽  
Risako Yano ◽  
Risako Miyaoka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Sika Deer ◽  
Cervus Nippon ◽  
Niche Differentiation ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Dwarf Bamboo ◽  
Central Japan ◽  
Habitat Mosaic ◽  
The Japanese Archipelago ◽  
Japanese Serow

AbstractDifferential resource use allows for diverse species to specialize in ecological niches and thus coexist in a particular area. In the Japanese archipelago, increasing sika deer (Cervus nippon, Temminck 1836) densities have excluded the Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus, Temminck 1836), but in places where deer population densities are low, the two species coexist. We wanted to better understand their habitats and how these two ungulates manage to coexist. We evaluated the role of habitat use in the coexistence of these two sympatric ungulates on Mt. Asama, central Japan. Deer frequently used the dwarf bamboo-rich communities in autumn and winter, and their habitat use was not associated with topography. Serows frequently used deciduous broadleaf shrub-rich communities and steep slopes throughout the year. Consequently, their habitat use was significantly different in terms of vegetation and topography. Niche breadth suggests that deer tend to be generalists, whereas serows tend to be specialists. Niche differentiation in habitat use between deer and serows may make the coexistence of these similarly sized ungulates possible in Japanese mountainous zones. Therefore, the fine-grained habitat mosaic of different vegetation and topography areas might be the underlying feature that allows the coexistence of these two species.

Estimation of Population Density for Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) Using Distance Sampling in the Forested Habitats of Hokkaido, Japan

Mammal Study ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-64
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Uno ◽  
Mayumi Ueno ◽  
Yoshihiro Inatomi ◽  
Yuichi Osa ◽  
Nobuhiro Akashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Sika Deer ◽  
Distance Sampling ◽  
Cervus Nippon

Population Density and Range Use of Sika Deer, Cervus nippon, on Mt. Ohdaigahara, Central Japan

1999 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ikuyo Maeji ◽  
Shotaro Yokoyama ◽  
Ei'ichi Shibata
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Sika Deer ◽  
Cervus Nippon ◽  
Central Japan ◽  
Range Use

Interference competition and group size effect in sika deer (Cervus nippon) at salt licks

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoge Ping ◽  
Chunwang Li ◽  
Zhigang Jiang ◽  
Wuhua Liu ◽  
Huanbing Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Size Effect ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Sika Deer ◽  
Interference Competition ◽  
Cervus Nippon ◽  
Group Size Effect ◽  
Salt Licks

Robustness of adult female survival maintains a high-density sika deer (Cervus nippon) population following the initial irruption

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 143 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ueno ◽  
H. Iijima ◽  
K. Takeshita ◽  
H. Takahashi ◽  
T. Yoshida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sika Deer ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Cervus Nippon ◽  
High Density ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Density Level ◽  
Annual Survival ◽  
Deer Population ◽  
Winter Severity

Context Irruption of large herbivore populations is characterised by three distinct phases: (1) an exponential increase in population to a peak abundance; (2) a population crash; and (3) a second increase to another population peak, typically lower than the first peak of abundance. However, there has been little study of age- and sex-specific factors that affect the post-initial irruption interactions with food sources. Aims We aimed to investigate annual survival rates of sika deer (Cervus nippon Temminck, 1838) in the sequent irruption of a population on Nakanoshima Island, Lake Toya, Japan, with a chronically high density during the period 2002–12. Methods Survival monitoring data were obtained for 219 individuals (93 males and 126 females) using radio-collars. Annual survival was quantified, and related factors, i.e. deer abundance and winter severity, were determined by model selection using Akaike information criterion values. Key Results The results showed that annual survival rates across sexes and age classes (fawn, yearling, prime-aged, old) decreased with increasing population density, snow depth and winter precipitation. Winter severity had a greater effect on adult survival than density regulation. Nevertheless, female adult survival was maintained at a high level, with a mean of 0.84 (95% CI: 0.80–0.88). Key conclusions Robust survival rates for adult females might contribute to the maintenance of a high-density sika deer population in the post-initial irruption. Implications We suggest that in the absence of predation and hunting, sika deer population is not able to self-regulate to the density level that avoids an irreversible impact on plants.

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