Influence of Forest Fragmentation on the Winter Abundance of Mammals in Mt. Chirisan National Park,South Korea

Abstract: We examined the influence of both local habitat and landscape variables on mammal species abundance in a forest fragmented by road construction and in continuous forest in 8 study sites in Mt. Chirisan National Park, South Korea, from 2001 to 2004. We recorded tracks of 8 species of mammals, Siberian weasels (Mustela sibirica), yellow-throated martens (Martes flavigula), Bengal cats (Felis bengalensis), wild boars (Sus scrofa), water deer (Hydropotes inermis), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), Korean hares (Lepus coreanus), and red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris), on the snow on 8 2-km transects in our study areas. There were significant differences in density of snags, mean tree basal area, and in shrub coverage between the fragmented and unfragmented forest areas. We found significant differences in abundance index of tracks between the fragmented and unfragmented areas for 5 mammal species; the others had even distributions. Of the 8 mammal species analyzed, 5 species related to landscape and local vegetation variables in a stepwise approach with repeated measures. Landscape variables are significant predictors of abundance for many mammal species. Forest managers should consider multiple measures of forest fragmentation sensitivity when making forest management decisions.     

Feeding diets of the Korean water deer (Hydropotes inermis argyropus) based on a 202?bp rbcL sequence analysis

The water deer (Hydropotes inermis) is one of the rare small ruminants in the world. There are two distinct subspecies in Far East Asia: one (H. i. inermis) lives in China, and the other (H. i. argyropus) lives in Korea. Unlike the Chinese subspecies, the diet of the Korean subspecies in the wild has rarely been studied. Here, we analyzed the diets of the Korean water deer by using 202 bp rbcL sequences of plants found in fecal samples. Both similarity (%) and phylogeny (NJ tree) of the sequences were considered for the sequence assignment. These methods successfully assigned each sequence to only one family of one order without exception. We found that the Korean water deer fed on a total of 18 orders and 24 families of plants in the summer season. It fed mainly on Asteraceae family (28.4%) followed by Fagaceae (15.9%) and Polygonaceae (11.5%). There was a significant difference in diet composition between lowland area and mountainous area deer (P < 0.001). The Korean water deer on Daebu Island are presumably browsers feeding mainly on forbs or woody plants.     

Appropriate vegetation indices for measuring the impacts of deer on forest ecosystems

Increasing deer density can cause serious degradation of forests in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. To manage deer impacts, evaluating their current impacts on forest ecosystems is necessary, usually via vegetation indices. However, the relationship between vegetation indices and absolute deer density, while taking into account tree size, snow depth, light condition, and the type of understory vegetation, has never been investigated. We examined the relationship between various vegetation indices and absolute deer density in 344 study plots in the deciduous broad-leaved forest of Yamanashi Prefecture, central Japan. In each plot, debarking and browsing, along with the coverage and maximum height of understory vegetation, were surveyed. Estimated deer densities for 82 5 × 5-km mesh units ranged from 0.8 deer/km² to 32.7 deer/km². The percentages of debarked trees within a plot ranged from 0 to 84%. Debarking was promoted by high deer density, small tree size, and thick snow. The effect of tree size on debarking was stronger than that of deer density. Occurrence of browsing on understory vegetation was higher at higher deer densities, and where understory vegetation was dominated by evergreen dwarf bamboo. Coverage and maximum height of understory vegetation were unaffected by deer density but increased with canopy openness and the dominance of dwarf bamboo in the understory. Overall, we predict that debarking of small trees living in heavy snow areas should occur even at low deer densities (<10 deer/km²). Browsing on dwarf bamboo should occur at intermediate deer densities (10–30 deer/km²), while debarking of thick trees living in low snow areas should occur only at high deer densities (≥30 deer/km²). Our study shows that debarking and browsing on understory vegetation are appropriate indices for evaluating deer impacts on forest ecosystems, but that tree size, snow depth, and the type of understory vegetation should also be considered.     

Length–weight relationships for two marine fish species from the Gulf of Oman: Uranoscopus guttatus Cuvier, 1829 and Lagocephalus inermis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1850)

This study presents the first report of length–weight relationships (LWRs) for Uranoscopus guttatus and Lagocephalus inermis from the Iranian coast on the Gulf of Oman. A wide range of body lengths and weights were obtained using samples from non‐selective trawling surveys. The LWRs obtained were W = 41.408L^3.519 and W = 16.525L^2.847 for U. guttatus and L. inermis, respectively.     

Predation has a greater impact in less productive environments: variation in roe deer, Capreolus capreolus, population density across Europe

Aim We aimed to describe the large‐scale patterns in population density of roe deer Caprelous capreolus in Europe and to determine the factors shaping variation in their abundance. Location Europe. Methods We collated data on roe deer population density from 72 localities spanning 25° latitude and 48° longitude and analysed them in relation to a range of environmental factors: vegetation productivity (approximated by the fraction of photosynthetically active radiation) and forest cover as proxies for food supply, winter severity, summer drought and presence or absence of large predators (wolf, Canis lupus, and Eurasian lynx, Lynx lynx), hunter harvest and a competitor (red deer, Cervus elaphus). Results Roe deer abundance increased with the overall productivity of vegetation cover and with lower forest cover (sparser forest cover means that a higher proportion of overall plant productivity is allocated to ground vegetation and thus is available to roe deer). The effect of large predators was relatively weak in highly productive environments and in regions with mild climate, but increased markedly in regions with low vegetation productivity and harsh winters. Other potentially limiting factors (hunting, summer drought and competition with red deer) had no significant impact on roe deer abundance. Main conclusions The analyses revealed the combined effect of bottom‐up and top‐down control on roe deer: on a biogeographical scale, population abundance of roe deer has been shaped by food‐related factors and large predators, with additive effects of the two species of predators. The results have implications for management of roe deer populations in Europe. First, an increase in roe deer abundance can be expected as environmental productivity increases due to climate change. Secondly, recovery plans for large carnivores should take environmental productivity and winter severity into account when predicting their impact on prey.     

Diversity,ecology, and seasonality of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in eastern Croatia

The diversity of hard tick fauna was studied in different forest communities in 48 localities of eastern Croatia using the dragging‐flagging method and by hand from ten different vertebrate hosts. A total of 2,225 specimens comprising seven species in three genera were identified. Ixodes ricinus, the most abundant species (72.8% of all collected specimens) was recorded in 44 localities, followed by Dermacentor reticulatus in 19 localities, while the other five species (D. marginatus, H. concinna, H. inermis, I. canisuga, and I. hexagonus) were recorded in fewer localities. The highest ratio (67% of collected ticks) was in the adult stage with the predominance of females. The numbers of collected females, males, and nymphs of I. ricinus and H. concinna differed significantly. Ten new tick‐host associations in Croatia were recorded. Fifty‐three animals were infested with one tick species. Single species infestation with I. ricinus was found in 45.8% of animals, followed by D. reticulatus with 25.4%, D. marginatus with 10.2%, H. inermis and I. hexagonus with 3.4%, and I. canisuga with 1.7%. Coinfestation with two species of ticks were recorded in six animals. Ixodes ricinus, H. inermis, and D. reticulatus showed bimodal seasonal activity; for other species unimodal activity patterns were recorded.     

甘肃兴隆山保护区野生马麝分布、数量特征及影响因素

综合采用样线法、粪堆计数法及重复调查法对甘肃省兴隆山国家级自然保护区的野生马麝（Moschus chrysogaster）进行了种群调查,结合生境分析,确定了其种群分布、数量特征及影响因素。结果表明,兴隆山保护区分布有野生马麝（1159±275）头,平均种群密度为（3.51±0.83）头/km²;各植被类型生境中的野生麝种群数量及密度存在差异,灌丛生境分布有70%的野生马麝种群,达（807±170）头,种群密度为（6.49±1.63）头/km²;针叶林种群密度最大,达（8.85±83.25）头/km²,分布有野生麝（123±45）头;针阔混交林分布最少,仅（41±15）头,种群密度为（5.00±1.84）头/km²;人工林生境无野生马麝分布。保护区各植被类型生境中的野生马麝种群分布差异反映了马麝对适宜生境功能的需求,食物、保温和隐蔽性是制约野生马麝冬季分布和种群数量的关键因素。此外,因生境及人为干扰强度的不同,保护区各区域的野生马麝种群分布存在差异。建议通过减少人为干扰、地表植被管理及人工林管理优化等措施增加生境适宜性,促进兴隆山自然保护区野生马麝种群的快速恢复和增长。     

Ungulate browsers promote herbaceous layer diversity in logged temperate forests

Ungulates are leading drivers of plant communities worldwide, with impacts linked to animal density, disturbance and vegetation structure, and site productivity. Many ecosystems have more than one ungulate species; however, few studies have specifically examined the combined effects of two or more species on plant communities. We examined the extent to which two ungulate browsers (moose [Alces americanus]) and white‐tailed deer [Odocoileus virginianus]) have additive (compounding) or compensatory (opposing) effects on herbaceous layer composition and diversity, 5–6 years after timber harvest in Massachusetts, USA. We established three combinations of ungulates using two types of fenced exclosures – none (full exclosure), deer (partial exclosure), and deer + moose (control) in six replicated blocks. Species composition diverged among browser treatments, and changes were generally additive. Plant assemblages characteristic of closed canopy forests were less abundant and assemblages characteristic of open/disturbed habitats were more abundant in deer + moose plots compared with ungulate excluded areas. Browsing by deer + moose resulted in greater herbaceous species richness at the plot scale (169 m²) and greater woody species richness at the subplot scale (1 m²) than ungulate exclusion and deer alone. Browsing by deer + moose resulted in strong changes to the composition, structure, and diversity of forest herbaceous layers, relative to areas free of ungulates and areas browed by white‐tailed deer alone. Our results provide evidence that moderate browsing in forest openings can promote both herbaceous and woody plant diversity. These results are consistent with the classic grazing‐species richness curve, but have rarely been documented in forests.     

Tick infestation (Acari: Ixodidae) in roe deer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capreolus capreolus</Emphasis>) from northwestern Spain: population dynamics and risk stratification

During the 2007 and 2008 hunting seasons (April–October) the skin of 367 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.), hunted in different preserves from Galicia (Northwestern Spain), were examined for ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). The overall prevalence of infestation by ticks was 83.1%. The predominant species was Ixodes ricinus (83.1%), whereas a single Dermacentor marginatus specimen appeared in one roe deer. All developmental stages of I. ricinus were found parasitizing roe deer, the adults being the most frequent (82.2%), followed by nymphs (45.6%) and larvae (27.2%). The mean intensity of infestation by I. ricinus was 43.2 ± 49.85; most of them were adults (30.7 ± 31.64) and in a lesser extend nymphs (16.9 ± 24.74) and larvae (10.7 ± 29.90). Ixodes ricinus was present all over the study with percentages that oscillated between 100% in spring and 57.4% in autumn. CHAID algorithm showed the sex of roe deer as the most influential factor in tick prevalence, followed by the climatic area. The different developmental stages of I. ricinus were more frequent in males than in females, and the prevalence of adults and larvae were higher in roe deer from coastal areas than in those from mountainous and central areas, whereas nymphs were more frequent in mountainous areas. Host age and density were not determinants for tick infestation. Our results confirm that roe deer are important hosts for I. ricinus in northwestern Spain, serving as a vehicle for the geographic distribution of these ticks.     

Using niche modelling and human influence index to indicate conservation priorities for Atlantic forest deer species

To prioritise conservation actions and management strategies for threatened forest deer species at the Atlantic forest, we aimed to identify and describe the most suitable habitat areas for forest deer species and to indicate conservation measures for state agents and local communities. We adopt an approach based on ecological niche modelling, key variable thresholds and spatial analyses. In addition, we associated our approach with a human influence index, an invasive species dataset of occurrences, protected area cover and IUCN category. We indicate 2 % (484 km²) of the Atlantic forest cover as conservation priority areas (CPAs). Of these, 56.8 % are outside protected areas, 20.7 % are inside IUCN categories i, ii and iii protected areas, 19.9 % are inside IUCN categories iv, v, and vi protected areas, and 2.6 % are inside indigenous areas. Also, we indicate the most relevant protected areas for deer conservation in the Atlantic forest. The CPAs were classified into more human-influenced areas (MHIA) and less human-influenced areas (LHIA), and we identified 21 significant (greater than120 km²) continuous CPAs outside protected areas. We highlight actions in several perspectives of human influence, governance levels and law protection that would rationalise the use of funds and human resources.     

Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori in Korea: A multicenter,nationwide study conducted in 2015 and 2016

Background

The Korean College of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research has studied Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) prevalence since 1998 and found a dynamic change in its prevalence in Korea. The aim of this study was to determine the recent H. pylori prevalence rate and compare it with that of previous studies according to socioeconomic variables.

Methods

We planned to enroll 4920 asymptomatic Korean adults from 21 centers according to the population distribution of seven geographic areas (Seoul, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Chungcheong, Kyungsang, Cholla, and Jeju). We centrally collected serum and tested H. pylori serum IgG using a chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay.

Results

We analyzed 4917 samples (4917/4920 = 99.9%) from January 2015 to December 2016. After excluding equivocal serologic results, the H. pylori seropositivity rate was 51.0% (2414/4734). We verified a decrease in H. pylori seroprevalence compared with previous studies performed in 1998, 2005, and 2011 (P < .0001). The H. pylori seroprevalence rate differed by area: Cholla (59.5%), Chungcheong (59.2%), Kyungsang (55.1%), Jeju (54.4%), Gangwon (49.1%), Seoul (47.4%), and Gyeonggi (44.6%). The rate was higher in those older than 40 years (38.1% in those aged 30‐39 years and 57.7% in those aged 40‐49 years) and was lower in city residents than in noncity residents at all ages.

Conclusions

Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence in Korea is decreasing and may vary according to population characteristics. This trend should be considered to inform H. pylori‐related policies.     

White-Tailed Deer,Weather and Predation: a New Understanding of Winter Severity for Predicting Deer Mortality

Variation in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) mortality during winter affects population growth in cold climates. Across the northern extent of their range, mortality increases with colder temperatures and snow. Few studies have examined the relationships between winter conditions and deer mortality, and no studies have concurrently studied this relationship for different ages of deer across multiple years and landscapes. We used recently developed cause-specific mortality models to evaluate temporal and age-class variation in deer mortality in farmland areas and compared to published results from forest areas in Wisconsin, USA, from 2011–2014. We then used temporally varying snow and temperature covariates to predict mortality trends using telemetry information from 860 deer. Cause-specific mortality in the farmland varied by age and year, similar to results from previous research in the forest. Human-related mortality was the leading cause of mortality in the farmland during most years and ranged from 4.3% to 10.3% for juveniles and 3.6% to 9.1% for adults from 2011–2014. Very little predation occurred in the farmland, and this differed from previous research in the forest where predation was the leading cause of mortality. During more severe winters (2013 and 2014), other mortality, usually associated with starvation, was the leading cause of mortality for juveniles in the farmland but not adults. In the forest, we found support for saturating effects of accumulated snow depth days >30.5 cm and accumulated temperature days >0°C on mortality. We also found support for the relationship of mortality with accumulated temperature days >0°C in the farmland but no relationship with snow depth. Deer tolerate sustained cold temperatures, but the timing of winter to spring transition is more important for deer survival in both forested and agricultural areas. In the absence of empirical survival information, managers can use our model to predict annual winter effects on deer survival, which can provide improved inference compared to traditional winter severity indices. Our results suggest changes in predator abundance may have minor influence on overwinter survival compared to winter weather. Based on mortality estimates from previous research, the highest predation rates on juvenile deer in the forest occurred when wolf (Canis lupus) counts were lowest and when wolf abundance was highest, juvenile deer predation rates were lowest. © 2021 The Wildlife Society.     

Linking White-Tailed Deer Density,Nutrition, and Vegetation in a Stochastic Environment

Density-dependent behavior underpins white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) theory and management application in North America, but strength or frequency of the phenomenon has varied across the geographic range of the species. The modifying effect of stochastic environments and poor-quality habitats on density-dependent behavior has been recognized for ungulate populations around the world, including white-tailed deer populations in South Texas, USA. Despite the importance of understanding mechanisms influencing density dependence, researchers have concentrated on demographic and morphological implications of deer density. Researchers have not focused on linking vegetation dynamics, nutrition, and deer dynamics. We conducted a series of designed experiments during 2004–2012 to determine how strongly white-tailed deer density, vegetation composition, and deer nutrition (natural and supplemented) are linked in a semi-arid environment where the coefficient of variation of annual precipitation exceeds 30%. We replicated our study on 2 sites with thornshrub vegetation in Dimmit County, Texas. During late 2003, we constructed 6 81-ha enclosures surrounded by 2.4-m-tall woven wire fence on each study site. The experimental design included 2 nutrition treatments and 3 deer densities in a factorial array, with study sites as blocks. Abundance targets for low, medium, and high deer densities in enclosures were 10 deer (equivalent to 13 deer/km²), 25 deer (31 deer/km²), and 40 deer (50 deer/km²), respectively. Each study site had 2 enclosures with each deer density. We provided deer in 1 enclosure at each density with a high-quality pelleted supplement ad libitum, which we termed enhanced nutrition; deer in the other enclosure at each density had access to natural nutrition from the vegetation. We conducted camera surveys of deer in each enclosure twice per year and added or removed deer as needed to approximate the target densities. We maintained >50% of deer ear-tagged for individual recognition. We maintained adult sex ratios of 1:1–1:1.5 (males:females) and a mix of young and older deer in enclosures. We used reconstruction, validated by comparison to known number of adult males, to make annual estimates of density for each enclosure in analysis of treatment effects. We explored the effect of deer density on diet composition, diet quality, and intake rate of tractable female deer released into low- and high-density enclosures with natural nutrition on both study sites (4 total enclosures) between June 2009 and May 2011, 5 years after we established density treatments in enclosures. We used the bite count technique and followed 2–3 tractable deer/enclosure during foraging bouts across 4 seasons. Proportion of shrubs, forbs, mast, cacti, and subshrubs in deer diets did not differ (P > 0.57) between deer density treatments. Percent grass in deer diets was higher (P = 0.05) at high deer density but composed only 1.3 ± 0.3% (SE) of the diet. Digestible protein and metabolizable energy of diets were similar (P > 0.45) between deer density treatments. Likewise, bite rate, bite size, and dry matter intake did not vary (P > 0.45) with deer density. Unlike deer density, drought had dramatic (P ≤ 0.10) effects on foraging of tractable deer. During drought conditions, the proportion of shrubs and flowers increased in deer diets, whereas forbs declined. Digestible protein was 31%, 53%, and 54% greater (P = 0.06) during non-drought than drought during autumn, winter, and spring, respectively. We studied the effects of enhanced nutrition on the composition and quality of tractable female deer diets between April 2007 and February 2009, 3 years after we established density treatments in enclosures. We also estimated the proportion of supplemental feed in deer diets. We used the 2 low-density enclosures on each study site, 1 with enhanced nutrition and 1 with natural nutrition (4 total enclosures). We again used the bite count technique and 2–3 tractable deer living in each enclosure. We estimated proportion of pelleted feed in diets of tractable deer and non-tractable deer using ratios of stable isotopes of carbon. Averaged across seasons and nutrition treatments, shrubs composed a majority of the vegetation portion of deer diets (44%), followed by mast (26%) and forbs (15%). Enhanced nutrition influenced the proportion of mast, cacti, and flowers in the diet, but the nature and magnitude of the effect varied by season and year. The trend was for deer in natural-nutrition enclosures to eat more mast. We did not detect a statistical difference (P = 0.15) in the proportion of shrubs in diets between natural and enhanced nutrition, but deer with enhanced nutrition consumed 7–24% more shrubs in 5 of 8 seasons. Deer in enhanced-nutrition enclosures had greater (P = 0.03) digestible protein in their overall diet than deer in natural-nutrition enclosures. The effect of enhanced nutrition on metabolizable energy in overall diets varied by season and was greater (P < 0.04) for enhanced-nutrition deer during summer and autumn 2007 and winter 2008. In the enhanced-nutrition treatment, supplemental feed averaged 47–80% of the diet of tractable deer. Of non-tractable deer in all density treatments with enhanced nutrition, 97% (n = 128 deer) ate supplemental feed. For non-tractable deer averaged across density treatments, study sites, and years, percent supplemental feed in deer diets exceeded 70% for all sex and age groups. We determined if increasing deer density and enhanced nutrition resulted in a decline in preferred forbs and shrubs and an increase in plants less preferred by deer. We sampled all 12 enclosures via 20, 50-m permanent transects in each enclosure. Percent canopy cover of preferred forbs was similar (P = 0.13) among deer densities averaged across nutrition treatments and sampling years (low density: = 8%, SE range 6–10; medium density: 5%, 4–6; high density: 4%, 3–5; SE ranges are presented because SEs associated with backtransformed means are asymetrical). Averaged across deer densities, preferred forb canopy cover was similar between nutrition treatments in 2004; but by 2012 averaged 20 ± 17–23% in enhanced-nutrition enclosures compared to 10 ± 8–13% in natural-nutrition enclosures (P = 0.107). Percent canopy cover of other forbs, preferred shrubs, other shrubs, and grasses, as well as Shannon's index, evenness, and species richness were similar (P > 0.10) among deer densities, averaged across nutrition treatments and sampling years. We analyzed fawn:adult female ratios, growth rates of fawns and yearlings, and survival from 6 to 14 months of age and for adults >14 months of age. We assessed adult body mass and population growth rates (lambda apparent, λ_APP) to determine density and nutrition effects on deer populations in the research enclosures during 2004–2012. Fawn:adult female ratios declined (P = 0.04) from low-medium density to high density in natural-nutrition enclosures but were not affected (P = 0.48) by density in enhanced nutrition enclosures although, compared to natural nutrition, enhanced nutrition increased fawn:adult female ratios by 0.15 ± 0.12 fawns:adult female at low-medium density and 0.44 ± 0.17 fawns:adult female at high density. Growth rate of fawns was not affected by deer density under natural or enhanced nutrition (P > 0.17) but increased 0.03 ± 0.01 kg/day in enhanced-nutrition enclosures compared to natural nutrition (P < 0.01). Growth rate of yearlings was unaffected (P > 0.71) by deer density, but growth rate increased for males in some years at some density levels in enhanced-nutrition enclosures. Adult body mass declined in response to increasing deer density in natural-nutrition enclosures for both adult males (P < 0.01) and females (P = 0.10). Enhanced nutrition increased male body mass, but female mass did not increase compared to natural nutrition. Survival of adult males was unaffected by deer density in natural- (P = 0.59) or enhanced- (P = 0.94) nutrition enclosures. Survival of adult females was greatest in medium-density enclosures with natural nutrition but similar at low and high density (P = 0.04). Enhanced nutrition increased survival of females (P < 0.01) and marginally for males (P = 0.11). Survival of fawns 6–14 months old was unaffected (P > 0.35) by density in either natural- or enhanced-nutrition treatments but was greater (P = 0.04) under enhanced nutrition. Population growth rate declined (P = 0.06) with increasing density in natural-nutrition enclosures but not (P = 0.55) in enhanced nutrition. Enhanced nutrition increased λ_APP by 0.32. Under natural nutrition, we found only minor effects of deer density treatments on deer diet composition, nutritional intake, and plant communities. However, we found density-dependent effects on fawn:adult female ratios, adult body mass, and population growth rate. In a follow-up study, deer home ranges in our research enclosures declined with increasing deer density. We hypothesized that habitat quality varied among home ranges and contributed to density-dependent responses. Variable precipitation had a greater influence on deer diets, vegetation composition, and population parameters than did deer density. Also, resistance to herbivory and low forage quality of the thornshrub vegetation of our study sites likely constrained density-dependent behavior by deer. We posit that it is unlikely that, at our high-density (50 deer/km²) and perhaps even medium-density (31 deer/km²) levels, negative density dependence would occur without several wet years in close association. In the past century, this phenomenon has only happened once (1970s). Thus, density dependence would likely be difficult to detect in most years under natural nutrition in this region. Foraging by deer with enhanced nutrition did not result in a reduction in preferred plants in the vegetation community and had a protective effect on preferred forbs because ≤53% of deer diets consisted of vegetation. However, enhanced nutrition improved fitness of individual deer and deer populations, clearly demonstrating that nutrition is limiting for deer populations under natural conditions in western South Texas. © 2019 The Authors. Wildlife Monographs published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Wildlife Society.     

White-Tailed Deer Movements in a Chronic Wasting Disease Area in South-Central Wisconsin

Abstract: To focus white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) management within a chronic wasting disease-infected area in south-central Wisconsin, USA, we assessed deer movements and related dispersal to variation in landscape pattern, deer density, and harvest intensity. We radiocollared and monitored 165 deer between 2003 and 2005. Yearling males that dispersed (45%) had greater forest edge (i.e., fragmentation) within natal home ranges. Exploratory movements were rare for adult females. Transient and migratory movements were rare among all deer (<5%). Although yearling males have low chronic wasting disease prevalence rates, they may be infected before dispersal due to variable incubation times. Managers should increase yearling male harvest and consider removing young males in areas of higher forest edge.     

Impact of Red Deer Cervus elaphus Grazing on Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus and Composition of Ground Beetle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) Assemblage

We studied the role of red deer Cervus elaphus L. as ecosystem modifier in boreal forest (Tingvoll municipality, 62°52′ N, 8°20′ E, Norway), during early summer of 2001. The effect of grazing by red deer on ground beetles (Carabidae) abundance and diversity was investigated across a gradient of grazing pressures. We trapped ground beetles by pit-fall traps from three homogeneous winter grazing areas (ungrazed, medium grazed, heavily grazed). Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus (the main winter food for red deer) was sampled and its dry weight was measured for the three locations. Gradient analyses showed that grazing by red deer affects carabid species composition. Grazing significantly affected the amount of bilberry, which correlated with species variation. According to our predictions, we found a higher abundance of carabids in the heavily grazed location, but the species richness and the diversity indices were similar for the three areas. This study shows that overall species composition is altered along a gradient as consequence of red deer winter grazing and that red deer act as ecosystem engineer, by reducing the bilberry heather which dominates the field layer in early summer.     

Factors affecting seasonal habitat use,and predicted range of two tropical deer in Indonesian rainforest

There is an urgent recognized need for conservation of tropical forest deer. In order to identify some environmental factors affecting conservation, we analyzed the seasonal habitat use of two Indonesian deer species, Axis kuhlii in Bawean Island and Muntiacus muntjak in south-western Java Island, in response to several physical, climatic, biological, and anthropogenic variables. Camera trapping was performed in different habitat types during both wet and dry season to record these elusive species. The highest number of photographs was recorded in secondary forest and during the dry season for both Bawean deer and red muntjac. In models, anthropogenic and climatic variables were the main predictors of habitat use. Distances to cultivated area and to settlement were the most important for A. kuhlii in the dry season. Distances to cultivated area and annual rainfall were significant for M. muntjak in both seasons. Then we modelled their predictive range using Maximum entropy modelling (Maxent). We concluded that forest landscape is the fundamental scale for deer management, and that secondary forests are potentially important landscape elements for deer conservation. Important areas for conservation were identified accounting of habitat transformation in both study areas.     

Quantitative classification and carbon density of the forest vegetation in Lüliang Mountains of China

Forests play a major role in global carbon (C) cycle, and the carbon density (CD) could reflect its ecological function of C sequestration. Study on the CD of different forest types on a community scale is crucial to characterize in depth the capacity of forest C sequestration. In this study, based on the forest inventory data of 168 field plots in the study area (E 111°30′–113°50′, N 37°30′–39°40′), the forest vegetation was classified by using quantitative method (TWINSPAN); the living biomass of trees was estimated using the volume-derived method; the CD of different forest types was estimated from the biomass of their tree species; and the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on CD were studied using a multiple linear regression analysis. The results show that the forest vegetation in this region could be classified into 9 forest formations. The average CD of the 9 forest formations was 32.09 Mg ha⁻¹ in 2000 and 33.86 Mg ha⁻¹ in 2005. Form. Picea meyeri had the highest CD (56.48 Mg ha⁻¹), and Form. Quercus liaotungensis + Acer mono had the lowest CD (16.14 Mg ha⁻¹). Pre-mature forests and mature forests were very important stages in C sequestration among four age classes in these formations. Forest densities, average age of forest stand, and elevation had positive relationships with forest CD, while slope location had negative correlation with forest CD.     

张广才岭南部东北虎猎物种群冬季营养容纳量研究

猎物匮乏是影响东北虎（Panthera tigris altaica）种群恢复的关键因素之一。容纳量研究是开展东北虎猎物恢复工作的必要前提。通过Maxent模型、聚类分析和训练随机树分类等方法,结合调查数据,预测了吉林省张广才岭南部黄泥河林业局东北虎主要猎物的适宜栖息地空间分布,解译了植被类型,在此基础上基于不同植被类型动物可采食部分代谢能、不同生境等级食物可利用率、马鹿（Cervus elaphus）和狍（Capreolus capreolus）生境等级重叠情况以及动物冬季能量需求,分析了东北虎猎物的冬季营养容纳量。结果表明：黄泥河林业局狍、野猪（Sus scrofa）和马鹿的适宜栖息地分别占研究区域总面积的52.8%、40.7%和25.4%;从猎物获取能量来看,以山杨（Populus davidiana）、桦树（Betula）、核桃楸（Juglans mandshurica）为主的植被类型是马鹿、狍可获得能量较多的生境,以蒙古栎（Quercus mongolica）、核桃楸为主的植被类型是野猪可获得能量较多的生境。东北虎猎物种群的综合冬季营养容纳量为574只马鹿（0.29只/km²）,7016只狍（3.54只/km²）,4785只野猪（2.38只/km²）。     

Chromosomal evolution of the Chinese muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi)

The aim of this study was to test the validity of the hypothesis that the 2n=46 karyotype of the Chinese muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) could have evolved through 12 tandem fusions from a 2n=70 hypothetical ancestral karyotype, which is still retained in Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis) and brown-brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira). Combining fluorescence-activated chromosomal sorting and degenerate oligonucleotide-primed polymerase chain reaction, we generated chromosome-specific DNA paint probes for 13 M. gouazoubira chromosomes and most of the M. reevesi chromosomes with the exception of 18, 19 and X. These paint probes were used for fluorescence in situ hybridisation to chromosomal preparations of M. reevesi, H. inermis and M. gouazoubira. Chromosome-specific paint probes from M. reevesi chromosomes 1–5 and 11 each delineated more than one homologous pair (18 pairs in total) on the metaphases of H. inermis and M. gouazoubira. All the other probes from M. reevesi and probes from M. gouazoubira each hybridised to one pair of homologous chromosomes or regions. The C5 probe, derived from centromeric satellite sequences of M. reevesi, hybridised to the centromeric regions of all chromosomes of these three species. Most interestingly, several non-random interstitial signals, which are apparently localised to the putative fusion points, were found on chromosomes 1–5 and 11 of M. reevesi. Both the reciprocal painting patterns and localisation of the C5 probe demonstrate that M. reevesi chromosomes 1–5 and 11 could have evolved from 18 different ancestral chromosomes through 12 tandem fusions, thus providing direct molecular cytogenetic support for the tandem fusion hypothesis of karyotype evolution in M. reevesi. Received: 10 October 1996; in revised form: 18 December 1996 / Accepted: 27 December 1996     

Test of Localized Management for Reducing Deer Browsing in Forest Regeneration Areas

ABSTRACT White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) browsing in forest regeneration sites can affect current and future stand structure and species composition. Removal of deer social units (localized management) has been proposed as a strategy to alleviate deer overbrowsing in forest systems. We conducted an experimental localized removal in a high-density deer population in the central Appalachians of West Virginia, USA, during winter 2002. We removed 51 deer within a 1.1-km² area that encompassed 2 forest regeneration sites (14 ha). During the summer following removal, we detected decreases in distance from the removal area in 8 of 30 (26.7%) adult females having pretreatment mean telemetry locations <2.5 km from the center of the removal area. We measured browsing rates during the summers of 2001–2004 from forest regeneration sites to examine efficacy of localized management. Browsing rates declined annually in both removal and control areas, due in part to increased timber harvesting on the larger study site, suggesting that increasing forage availability may be more effective at reducing impacts on forest regeneration than localized reductions in deer populations. Three years after the initial removal, we removed an additional 31 deer from the original 1.1-km² removal area. Home range shifts of adjacent deer coupled with the large number of animals collected in the second removal suggests that localized management only produces temporary voids within high-density deer herds. Localized management may not effectively reduce negative impacts of deer in areas of high deer density.