What is the difference between the increasing sika deer and the decreasing Japanese serow? Verification from Optimal Foraging Theory.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06158
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 40010:Forest science-related
• Research Institution: Forest Research and Management Organization
• Principal Investigator: Yayota Chizuru 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 (20467210)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: シカ / カモシカ / 採食生態 / 餌資源

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It has been pointed out that serow may be experiencing population declines and habitat changes due to an increase in deer, which compete with serow for food resources. In the area where deer and serow inhabit, we investigated the relationship between habitat conditions of both species and the food resources. The results indicated that serow density were decreasing in high-density deer habitats. Furthermore, it was suggested that the density of serow could significantly decline when the amount of biomass for food in the shrub layer in addition to the herbaceous layer is decreased below a certain level.

Free Research Field

野生動物管理学、動物栄養学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

カモシカと餌資源の競合するシカの増加が原因で、カモシカの個体数の減少や生息地域の変化が生じている可能性が指摘されている。そこで、両種が同所的に生息する地域において、両種の生息状況および餌資源との関連を検証した。その結果、シカの高密度生息地域では、カモシカの生息密度が減少していることが示された。さらに、餌資源として利用可能な草本層に加えて低木層の植物が一定量以下に減少した場合に、カモシカの減少が顕著になる可能性が示唆された。