Estimating sika deer abundance using camera surveys

Cameras have been used throughout the world to estimate wildlife abundance and occupancy. Abundance estimates generated by camera surveys tend to be less invasive, less costly, and more accurate than other means in certain situations. We sought to expand and test the effectiveness of camera surveys on sika deer in Maryland. In 2008, we setup surveys with a 7-day pre-bait period followed by a 7-day active camera survey with 15 cameras. In 2009, we ran the cameras for the entire 14-day survey and moved cameras after each survey to determine if biases occur when using the same camera sites. During both years and all surveys, camera density was approximately 1-camera/65-ha. The abundance estimates were similar between years and estimators. In 2009, increasing photo intervals from 1-min to 5- and 10-min intervals reduced the number of pictures by 66 and 81%, respectively, while providing similar abundance estimates. We calculated the daily detection probabilities for all identifiable deer and we used radio-collared males that occurred within 2 km of the survey grid to assist in determining the optimum survey length. Detection probability did not vary between surveys in the same year, but varied between 2008 and 2009, most likely due to unlimited bait being available during 2008 surveys. Camera surveys have proven to be an accurate and cost effective means of estimating wildlife abundance and can be used successfully to determine sika deer abundance.     

Effects of access to voluntary wheel running on the development of stereotypy

Stereotyped motor behaviors are a common consequence of environmental restriction in a wide variety of species. Although environmental enrichment has been shown to substantially reduce stereotypy levels, the various components of enrichment have not been evaluated independently to determine which is responsible for this effect. Exercise, particularly voluntary wheel running, is a promising candidate based on several lines of behavioral and neurobiological evidence. To test the hypothesis that access to wheel running will reduce stereotyped motor behavior, we reared deer mice from weaning with continuous access to either a functional running wheel or a locked wheel. We assessed running behavior throughout this time period and stereotypy levels in a test context at 30 and 45 days post-weaning. We found that exercise did not significantly affect stereotypy level nor was there an association between wheel running and stereotypy. Thus, exercise alone, unlike environmental enrichment, does not prevent the development of stereotypy. These results have important implications for animal welfare.     

Using MODIS satellite imagery to predict hantavirus risk

Aims Sin Nombre virus (SNV), a strain of hantavirus, causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in humans, a deadly disease with high mortality rate (> 50%). The primary virus host is the deer mouse, and greater abundance of deer mice has been shown to increase the human risk of HPS. Our aim is to identify and compare vegetation indices and associated time lags for predicting hantavirus risk using remotely sensed imagery. Location Utah, USA. Methods A 5‐year time‐series of moderate‐resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite imagery and corresponding field data was utilized to compare various vegetation indices that measure productivity with the goal of indirectly estimating mouse abundance and SNV prevalence. Relationships between the vegetation indices and deer mouse density, SNV prevalence and the number of infected deer mice at various time lags were examined to assess which indices and associated time lags might be valuable in predicting SNV outbreaks. Results The results reveal varying levels of positive correlation between the vegetation indices and deer mouse density as well as the number of infected deer mice. Among the vegetation indices, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) produced the highest correlations with deer mouse density and the number of infected deer mice using a time lag of 1.0 to 1.3 years for May and June imagery. Main conclusions This study demonstrates the potential for using MODIS time‐series satellite imagery in estimating deer mouse abundance and predicting hantavirus risk. The 1‐year time lag provides a great opportunity to apply satellite imagery to predict upcoming SNV outbreaks, allowing preventive strategies to be adopted. Analysis of different predictive indices and lags could also be valuable in identifying the time windows for data collection for practical uses in monitoring rodent abundance and subsequent disease risk to humans.     

白山原麝国家级自然保护区獐春夏生境选择

生境与动物个体密切相关,生境中元素的不同影响着动物个体对不同生境的选择。2018年5-7月和2019年3-4月在吉林省白山原麝国家级自然保护区对獐（Hydropotes inermis）的春夏季生境选择进行了研究,共记录利用样方104个（春季53个,夏季51个）,对照样方85个（春季46个,夏季39个）。利用卡方检验对植被类型、优势植物、坡位、坡向4种非数值型环境因子进行分析,结果表明春季和夏季獐对这4种环境因子的选择均具有显著性差异,偏好选择以青蒿（Artemisia carvifolia）为优势植物,位于中坡位,坡向为阳坡的草地生境活动。利用独立样本T检验和Mann-Whitney U检验对海拔、人为干扰距离、水源距离、草本覆盖度、优势草本高度、隐蔽级、坡度7种数值型环境因子进行分析,结果表明春季和夏季獐均偏好选择隐蔽级较高（春季30.189±14.609,夏季62.745±29.737）、优势草本高度较高（春季87.359±16.190,84.510±29.618）、坡度较缓的生境（春季14.245±3.721,13.333±5.260）活动。此外,资源选择函数模型对獐的春季和夏季的生境选择预测正确率均大于90%,表明该模型可以较好地预测獐的生境选择。白山原麝国家级自然保护区獐种群数量较小,适宜性栖息地面积较少,应加强对其种群及适宜性生境的保护。     

新疆哈密山区天山马鹿(Cervus elaphus songaricus)的种群数量调查*

查清新疆东部哈密山区野生天山马鹿(Cervus elaphus songaricus)种群的现状,可为有效保护与合理利用野生马鹿资源提供科学依据。我们通过截线抽样法和遥感技术,弄清哈密山区天山马鹿的栖息地范围,估算马鹿的种群数量及种群密度。在哈密山区野生天山马鹿分布区域共设计了28条样线,总长度60.1 km,遇见马鹿233头,通过计算得到该地区马鹿天山亚种种群平均密度为(2.83?1.01)头/km2。栖息地面积374.35 km2,估计马鹿总数为(1 057.56?379.71)头左右。雌雄比例2.24:1,幼体和亚成体的总数量多于成体和老体总数。研究区域内马鹿的种群密度和资源总数量比往年的调查结果有所上升;马鹿的分布海拔高度比较一致,但种群的大小具有不均匀性;从性比和年龄结构来看该研究区域的马鹿种群面向着数量的增长趋势。     

四川铁布梅花鹿自然保护区梅花鹿夏季栖息地选择

四川梅花鹿Cervus nippon sichuanicus为国家Ⅰ级重点保护动物,四川铁布梅花鹿自然保护区分布有我国现存最大的梅花鹿野生种群。2011年6-9月,采用样方法对保护区梅花鹿夏季栖息地选择进行了调查,共布设109个样方(利用样方61个,对照样方48个),测量并比较了海拔、坡度等20个生境因子。结果显示,梅花鹿偏好利用的植被类型为灌丛、草甸、针叶林,同时选择隐蔽度较高的生境;此外,距水源距离、灌木高度、灌木盖度、灌木密度、草本高度和草本盖度6个连续变量在利用样方和对照样方之间差异有统计学意义(F<0.05或U<0.05)。回归模型分析结果表明,梅花鹿夏季偏好选择草本盖度大、靠近水源和林缘的生境,回避远离水源和林缘的生境。     

Simulation of the effects of deer browsing on forest dynamics

I introduced forest dynamics to a deterministic herbivore-vegetation model to examine the effects of vertically stratified forest structure on the dynamics of the herbivore–vegetation system, the resilience and stable states of vegetation, and the interactions between deer populations and vegetation. I constructed a model based on data from field studies performed in Hokkaido, northern Japan. Three phases of state were identified for a given deer density: (1) understory vegetation is maintained with a equilibrium proportion of canopy gaps in the absence of deer; (2) if the equilibrium proportion of canopy gaps is greater than that in the equilibrium state in the absence of deer, the understory vegetation can be maintained; and (3) the understory vegetation cannot be maintained. At the boundary between phases 2 and 3, the herbivore population level had discontinuous effects on vegetation. When the deer density was held below the threshold, forest vegetation had resilience to recover to the equilibrium stable state at the given deer density, although the equilibrium canopy gap ratio and vegetation biomass differed with deer density. However, the forest vegetation–herbivore system could not be maintained in a stable state without artificial deer population management if food limitation was the only mechanism to keep the deer population at low levels. The deer population must be kept below the boundary between phases 1 and 2 to maintain the forest regeneration processes. The level cannot be determined by observing the deer population; careful observation of forest regeneration processes is required.     

桃红岭自然保护区梅花鹿对春季栖息地的利用

2005年3~5月在江西桃红岭自然保护区对华南梅花鹿(Cervus nippon kopschi)春季栖息地的利用进行了初步研究。选择10类生态因子,并设置256个10 m×10 m样方。选择指数的结果表明,梅花鹿喜欢灌丛和灌草丛、郁闭度较低、灌木盖度较小、食物丰富度高、半阴半阳及向阳、中坡位、坡度平缓、水源距离较近、人为干扰距离>800 m和海拔高度在300~450 m的环境。并对目前桃红岭梅花鹿栖息地存在的一些问题进行了初步分析。     

The response of forest floor vegetation and tree regeneration to deer exclusion and disturbance in a riparian deciduous forest,central Japan

The response of forest floor vegetation and regeneration of major treespecies to deer exclusion in a riparian forest were studied for 3 years withtheinteractive effects of natural disturbances. At the start of this study, deerdensity had quickly increased to a fairly high level (29–31 individualskm^–2) during the last decade and had severely reduced theamount of forest floor vegetation in the study area. Dwarf bamboos, which weredominant before, had almost diminished from the forest floor. During the studyperiod, aboveground biomass increased steadily but species diversity did notchange much in the exclosures. Outside the exclosures, the seedlings of alltreespecies were damaged greatly by deer browsing, especially the taller ones. Deerbrowsing had little effect on the emergence of tree seedlings, but deertrampling might have accelerated emergence indirectly by disturbing the soilsurface for some species. Differences in plant responses were also observed fordeer browsing and the presence of dwarf bamboo that strongly inhibits therecruitment of tree seedlings. The nine major species were classified intothreegroups according to the response of seedlings to deer browsing and disturbance.Group 1 consists of the species whose seedling survival is affected bybrowsing,but seldom by disturbances (Phellodendron amurense,Kalopanax pictus, Quercus crispulaandMalus toringo). Groups 2 and 3 consist of species adaptedto tree-fall disturbance (Betula spp.) and ripariandisturbance (Alnus hirsuta var.sibirica, Ulmus davidiana var.japonica, Populus maximowiczii andSalix sachalinensis), respectively, and seedling survivalof these two groups is principally affected by light conditions. The effect ofdeer browsing on seedling survival and growth was greater for Group 2 than forGroup 3.