Studies on the population fluctuation and habitat preference of Ijima's Copper Pheasant Syrmaticus soemmerringii ijimae: an endemic, 'near threatened' Japanese subspecies.

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23580391
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Applied animal science
• Research Institution: University of Miyazaki
• Principal Investigator: ASHIZAWA Koji 宮崎大学, 農学部, 教授 (60128353)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: コシジロヤマドリ / 生態 / 準絶滅危惧種 / 日本固有種 / 個体数変動 / 生息地選好性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Population fluctuations and habitat preferences of Ijima’s Copper Pheasant were investigated using a line transect method at two different topographies; along a hillside in a mountainous region (Yamagariya) and along a ravine streamside (Kaichigoutani), Miyazaki prefecture from 2002 to 2014. During the 13 years of the survey, transects were walked a total of 584 times (representing approximately 2,340 hours and a walking distance of around 3,910 km). The total number of encounters was only 135 birds, which represents one bird every 17.3 hours or 29.0 km. The number of birds encountered appeared to decrease steadily throughout the study period. The frequency of encounters was higher in evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved forests, and lower in mature cedar and cypress plantations. Therefore, it is suggested that increasing their preferred broad-leaved forest habitat would be an appropriate strategy for the recovery of the declining Ijima’s Copper Pheasant population.

Free Research Field

動物生殖生理学