This book provides complete and up-to-date information on sika deer biology and its management, focusing on their life history with an integrated approach of population dynamics, morphology, genetics, and evolution. The expanding distribution of sika and its increase in population in Japan and other countries are causing damage to agriculture and forestry, impacting ecosystems and affecting other species. We are facing conflicting deer issues regarding the conservation of resource values and pest control of sika deer.

This contributed volume compiles new findings focusing on the ecological plasticity of the sika deer. It aims to clarify the ecological characteristics of the deer by integrating studies of different approaches and provides a perspective for their management.

The book consists of six parts. Part I introduces the ecological and management background behind the history of sika deer. The following four parts discuss movement ecology (Part II), impact on vegetation and bottom-up effect on sika deer (Part III), impact on ecosystem and its resilience (Part IV), and comparison of life-history characteristics between sika deer and other ungulate species (Part V). The last part (Part VI) covers the science-based management of sika deer.

Contributed by recognized experts and young researchers of sika deer, this book appeals to researchers and professionals in wildlife biology and wildlife management, evolution, population dynamics, morphology, genetics, and reproductive physiology.

Autorentext

Koichi Kaji, Ph.D., Emeritus professor of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology/Director of Wildlife Management Research Center, Hyogo

Hiroyuki Uno, Ph.D., Professor of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

Hayato Iijima, Ph.D., Senior Researcher of Department of Wildlife Biology, Forestry, Forest Products Research Institute

Inhalt

Part I. History and distribution of sika deer

Chapter 1: Genetic population structure and demographic history of sika deer in Japan.

Chapter 2: Process of population expansion of sika deer.

Chapter 3: Range expansion and impact of sika deer on vegetation in Japan.

Overview

Part II. Basic characteristics of population dynamic

Chapter 4: Population dynamics of northern sika deer populations Chapter 5: Population dynamics, habitat changes and life history traits of sika deer on Boso Peninsula, central Japan

Chapter 6: The effect of landscape composition on the carrying capacity of sika deer

Overview

Part III. Movements ecology

Chapter 7: Movement patterns of sika deer in Hokkaido region

Chapter 8: Movement patters of sika deer in Tohoku region

Chapter 9: Movement patterns of sika deer in mountainous region of central Honshu Chapter 10: Movement patterns and habitat use of sika deer in Kanto region

Chapter 11: Movement patterns and habitat use of sika deer in the area of Tanzawa Mountains, central Japan

Chapter 12: Movement patterns of sika deer around Mt Fuji

Chapter 13: Behavior of sika deer without seasonal movement in forestry area Chapter 14: Environmental characteristics affecting behavior of Sika deer in western Japan

Overview

Part IV. Ecological, morphological and genetic variation

Chapter 15: Ecological and evolutionary response of sika deer morphology to varying habitat environments: from tooth wear to body size

Chapter 16: Insular effects on sika deer morphology with respect to dietary change

Chapter 17: Reproductive variation of sika deer

Chapter 18: Effects of environment conditions and DNA on reproductive characteristics of sika deer and other deer species

Overview

Part V. Deer impact on vegetation and bottom-up effect on sika deer

Chapter 19: Long-term impact of sika deer on vegetation and the effect of vegetation change on life history of sika deer in an isolated island in Chapter 20: Evaluation of body mass and body size as ecological indicator showing population changes in sika deer (Cervus nippon)

Chapter 21: Effects of food quality and availability on the life history traits of sika deer

Chapter 22: Food habits and body condition of the sika deer populations in the Tanzawa Mountains, central Japan

Chapter 23: Ten-year-monitoring for the food habits and body condition of sika deer in western Tokyo, Central Japan

Overview

Part VI. Deer impact on ecosystem and its resilience

Chapter 24: Ensuring ecosystem resilience and vegetation recovery by deer proof fence Chapter 25: Impact of sika deer carcasses on its scavenger in relation to deer density

Chapter 26: Impact of sika deer on insect community and its functional responses

Chapter 27: Impact of sika deer on soil properties and erosion

Chapter 28: Responses of ground-layer vegetation and soil properties of against increased population density of sika deer and environmental conditions

Chapter 29: Successional pathways of vegetation under impact of sika deer after clearcutting: an experimental study in a warm-temperate region

Chapter 30: Effects of chronic deer herbivory on both understory vegetation and soil seed banks in natural forests Chapter 31: Response of understory vegetation after thinning in a plantation forest overgrazed by sika deer

Chapter 32: Impact of sika deer on aquatic ecosystem

Chapter 33: Effects of sika deer and the unique relationship with forest vegetation in Yakushima Island

Overview

Part VII. Sika deer in the world: comparison of life history characteristics between sika deer and other ungulate species

Chapter 34: Large variation of life history characteristics of sika deer in Japanese archipelago

Chapter 35: Interaction of activity patterns and food habits between sika deer and Japanese serow

Chapter 36: Characteristics of sika deer in the British Isles

Chapter 37: Comparison of sika deer and white-tailed deer in Maryland

Chapter 38: Introduced sika deer is strong competitor of red deer in New Zealand

Overview

Part VIII. Towards science-based management of sika deer.

Chapter 39: Ecological indicator of deer abundance and its impact on vegetation in relation to management

Chapter 40: Adaptive management of sika deer populations in Hokkaido

Chapter 41: Integrated deer management in the Tanzawa Mountains, Kanagawa Prefecture Chapter 42: Adaptive management of sika deer in Hyogo prefecture

Chapter 43: The spatial population structure as a management unit in sika deer

Chapter 44: Future perspective of sika deer management