Diet composition of sika deer in the Shiiba Research Forest in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan

DOI

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 宮崎県椎葉村の九州大学宮崎演習林におけるシカの食性

Description

<p>Abstract: The diet composition of sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Kyushu, Japan, has been poorly studied to date. Therefore, we analysed the seasonal diet composition of sika deer in the Shiiba Research Forest of Kyushu University. The deer population has increased since the 1970s and the forest ecosystem has been heavily affected by deer browsing; for example, the broad-leaf bamboo (Sasa borealis) disappeared from the study area around 2000. Faecal composition analyses of samples collected in 2022 and 2023 showed that fibre and culm were predominant, with green leaves accounting for only about 30% of the sika deer diet even in summer; thus, the deer appear to consume poor-quality food throughout the year. A comparison of the diet composition of sika deer in the study area with those of other habitats throughout Japan during the 2000s suggested that they had a very poor diet, probably because of deterioration of forest floor vegetation as a result of heavy deer browsing during the last few decades.</p>

Journal

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

  • CRID
    1390018904573917824
  • DOI
    10.18960/hozen.2334
  • ISSN
    24241431
    13424327
  • Text Lang
    ja
  • Data Source
    • JaLC
  • Abstract License Flag
    Allowed

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