Impacts of selective bark stripping by deer on functional compositions of tree communities

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16H04838
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Ecology/Environment
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: AIBA MASAHIRO 東北大学, 生命科学研究科, 助教 (80751990)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 中静 透 総合地球環境学研究所, 研究部, 特任教授 (00281105) ; 黒川 紘子 国立研究開発法人森林研究・整備機構, 森林総合研究所, 主任研究員 等 (70515733)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: シカ / 樹皮 / 機能形質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To understand impacts of selective bark stripping by deer on functional compositions, and consequently ecosystem functions/services, of tree communities, physical and chemical traits of bark of 71 tree species were measured. Associations between these traits and deer preference were analyzed by a machinelearning technique. Significant associations were detected between bark traits that are important for deer preference and leaf traits that are important for ecosystem functions. Non-random impacts of local extinction of species that are preferred by deer on functional compositions of tree communities were demonstrated by a simulation analysis.

Free Research Field

群集生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

シカの樹皮に対する嗜好性が形質から高精度に予測できることがわかり、シカによる被害が顕在化していない地域や樹種に対しても予防的措置が取れるようになった。また、シカによる選択的な摂食が、森林の生態系機能・サービスに非ランダムな影響を与える危険性を初めて示した。基礎科学的側面においては、樹皮形質の網羅的な解析により、形質間の関係性や種内変異のパターンを解明し、今後の樹皮研究に重要な基盤を提供した。