Abstract. The habitat of the Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus japonicus is the alpine zone of Central Honshu, Japan. The range of this subspecies is the southernmost in the world and is isolated from other subspecies. This monograph reviews past research and examines the problems being faced by the Ptarmigan in Japan. Twenty years ago there were about 3,000 Ptarmigan in Japan. It was suggested that extinction of the Ptarmigan in Japan will arise because the Japanese mountains are isolated from its core range. The characteristic of the alpine zone in Japan is the existence of the Dwarf Siberian Pine Pinus pumila. It was suggested that the existence of the pine is important to the Ptarmigan as it provides shelter and nesting sites. The food habits of the Ptarmigan were reviewed and it was suggested that analysis of dietary differences among regions and quantitative research is necessary. The life history of the Ptarmigan in the alpine zone was reviewed. Seasonal change in body-weight was discussed in relation to their life cycle. The differentiation of L. m. japonicus after the last glacial period, and its genetic diversity, based on haplotype analysis of mt DNA, were discussed. Some problems that the Ptarmigan is confronting now were discussed: decreased numbers in some mountains; invasion of their alpine zone range by Sika Deer and Japanese Macaques; a recent increase in predators, and global warming. The effect of global warming was estimated based on the vertical distribution of territories, suggesting that the number of Ptarmigan will decrease by up to 20.4% when the annual-average-temperature increased by 3°C and the Ptarmigan will become extinct from most mountains currently in its Japanese range. Before its extinction a conservation strategy is necessary and captive breeding skills should be developed.

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. Nest site characteristics of four raptor species breeding in a hilly area of Tochigi and Nagano, central Japan. Jpn. J. Ornithol. 55: 48-55.Abstract. The nest site characteristics of Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis, Greyfaced Buzzard Butastur indicus, Buzzard Buteo buteo and Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus were studied in Tochigi and Nagano prefectures, central Japan. Regional differences were found in the nesting tree species used by goshawk; with Japanese Cedar Cryptomeria japonica used mainly in Tochigi and Japanese Red Pine Pinus densiflora used mainly in Nagano. Other raptors also nested in Japanese Red Pine. Goshawk nested on one of the largest trees in the forest, but there was no similar tendency in Grey-faced Buzzard. The specific characteristic of the forests where goshawk nested was that they had less tree coverage in lower tree layers than forests used by other raptor species.