Studies for the effects of deer management on timber and tree lines

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K06136
• 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: Yamanashi Forest Research Institute
• Principal Investigator: Nagaike Takuo 山梨県森林総合研究所, その他部局等, 特別研究員 (50359254)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ニホンジカ / 剥皮 / 標高傾度

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the Yatsugatake Mountains, a survey was conducted to clarify the bark stripping by sika deer in subalpine coniferous forests. The bark stripping rate in each survey area was calculated as the ratio of the number of stripped trees to the number of living trees. The results for the subalpine coniferous forest (average 19.7%) were the second highest bark stripping rate after the Okuchichibu Mountains compared to other subalpine coniferous forests in the Yamanashi prefecture, central Japan.
The impact of bark stripping on trees around Mt. Kita was compared with the results for 2014 and 2018. The bark stripping rate by altitude was high around 2,200 m, and tended to decrease as the altitude increased. Compared to 2014, 11 survey plots had an increased bark stripping rate in 2023, 4 plots areas had the same rate, and 4 plots had a decrease, meaning that the bark stripping rate had increased in many survey areas.

Free Research Field

森林管理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ニホンジカの高標高域での影響の定量化は進んでいなかったが、本研究によって、山梨県内の影響を可視化できた。また、標高傾度での影響度を明らかにできたことにより、今後の気候変動適応策にニホンジカ管理を組み込むことが可能になると考えている。また、ニホンジカ嗜好種の標高的な分布から、樹木の気候変動による移動への可能性についての情報を得ることができた。