Effect of sika deer on the bog vegetation in Kushiro Mire, Hokkaido, Japan

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  • MURAMATSU Hiroki
    Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University
  • FUJITA Hiroko
    Botanic Garden, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University

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Other Title
  • エゾシカが釧路湿原の高層湿原植生に及ぼす影響
  • エゾシカ ガ クシロ シツゲン ノ コウソウ シツゲンショクセイ ニ オヨボス エイキョウ

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Abstract

With the rapid increase of sika deer （Cervus nippon） population in Japan, its distribution is expected to expand to the mire. Although herbivores have a major impact on the various ecosystems, little is known about their effects on mire vegetation. In this paper, we assessed the effect of sika deer on the bog plant communities in Kushiro Mire, northern Japan. First, we determined the distributions of deer trails and their feeding marks on bog species to identify whether grazing, trampling or digging mainly effected bog vegetation. Next, we conducted a vegetation survey and compared the vegetation among the plots grouped by trampled area, including plots from an earlier survey, to determine the effects of trampling. By comparing the lack of feeding marks on bog plants and the significant increase in the length of deer trails from 2004 to 2010 （400-800%）, we determined that the effect of trampling by sika deer was higher than that of grazing. Trampling remarkably reduced the vegetation cover, but it had no influence on the species number. The effects of trampling differed between growth forms. Bryophyte and dwarf shrubs were more reduced than graminoids. However, annual plants （Eriocaulon） increased their cover in hollow community, whereas Sphagnum papillosum emerged frequently in hummock community. Overall, trampling had negative effects on bog microtopography as well as vegetation, and it could take a long time to restore the bog vegetation.

Journal

  • Vegetation Science

    Vegetation Science 32 (1), 1-15, 2015

    The Society of Vegetation Science

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