Population density and group composition of Japanese sika deer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cervus nippon yakushimae</Emphasis>) in an evergreen broad-leaved forest in Yakushima,southern Japan |
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Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">Naoki?AgetsumaEmail author Hideki?Sugiura David A?Hill Yoshimi?Agetsuma-Yanagihara Toshiaki?Tanaka |
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Institution: | (1) Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Tomakomai Experimental Forest, Takaoka Tomakomai 053-0035, Japan;(2) Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama 484-8506, Japan;(3) School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex, BN19Qg, United Kingdom;(4) Tomakomai City Museum, Suehiro Tomakomai 053-0011, Japan;(5) Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Komaba Meguro 153-8902, Japan |
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Abstract: | The population density of Japanese sika deer (Cervus nippon yakushimae Kuroda and Okada) in an evergreen broad-leaved forest in Yakushima, southern Japan, was surveyed over 4years from 1998 to 2001. Two approximately 50ha study sites, Hanyama and Kawahara, were established with a total of 4km of census trails at each site. The estimated densities of sika deer at the two sites were 43–70 deerkm–2 at Hanyama and 63–78 deerkm–2 at Kawahara, although these values might be underestimates. The adult sex ratio (number of adult males:number of adult females) ranged from 0.6 to 1.0 at Hanyama, and from 0.4 to 0.9 at Kawahara. Mean group size was 1.9 deer (male group, 1.5 deer; female group, 1.6 deer; mixed group, 3.6 deer). The population density of sika deer was relatively high compared to other sites in Japan, with the exception of very small (<10km2) islands. Possible explanations for this naturally high density of sika deer in an evergreen broad-leaved forest in Yakushima are discussed. |
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Keywords: | Cervus nippon yakushimae evergreen forest group composition population density Yakushima |
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