Management approach using simple indices of deer density and status of understory vegetation for conserving deciduous hardwood forests on a regional scale

Kishimoto, Yasutaka; Fujiki, Daisuke; Sakata, Hiroshi

doi:10.1007/s10310-010-0185-x

Cited by 13 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Cumulative deer density data were obtained from the monitoring using sight per unit effort measurements conducted by Hyogo Prefecture (Kishimoto et al, 2010). Among the river catchments on the tip of the basins (i.e., no upstream catchment), we determined catchment areas with mean elevations of 100-800 m, mean slopes of 20 -35 , and where the majority of the land cover was secondary forests or conifer plantations (Figure 2c,d).…”

Section: Site Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regional‐scale effects of deer‐induced forest degradation on river ecosystem dynamics

Nakagawa,

Fujiki,

Numata

et al. 2024

Population Ecology

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Almost all ecosystems are open systems, meaning that significant changes in one ecosystem can lead to unexpected changes in others. Deer overabundance has become a problem worldwide, leading to forest degradation that has impacts on not only terrestrial, but also aquatic ecosystems. This study aims to investigate the regional‐scale importance of large herbivores in inter‐ecosystem interactions by examining the effects of deer‐induced forest degradation on fish populations. We selected similar‐scale catchments from river systems in Hyogo, Japan, that differed in the time since deer‐induced forest degradation. Conventional surveys for fish densities and microhabitat environments were conducted in 23 catchments, and surveys using quantitative eDNA metabarcoding were conducted in 95 catchments. We examined the relationships between fish population densities, microhabitats, and time since forest degradation, considering confounding effects. Data from 8 and 17 fish taxa detected by snorkeling and eDNA methods, respectively, were available for statistical analysis. Snorkeling‐counts (Individuals/1 m transect) and eDNA concentrations (Copies/L) in river water were strongly correlated. Fine sediments on riverbeds were increased in the 3–15 years following forest degradation and decreased after 16 years. Population densities of sand‐preferring fishes, as inferred from both eDNA and snorkeling, reasonably followed this pattern. These patterns may be caused by the depletion of fine sediments on mountain slopes. The results of this study suggest that deer‐induced worldwide alternation may also occur in aquatic ecosystems.

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Section: Site Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regional‐scale effects of deer‐induced forest degradation on river ecosystem dynamics

Nakagawa,

Fujiki,

Numata

et al. 2024

Population Ecology

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“…Browsing marks on the understory vegetation (woody and herbaceous plants) in mature plantations are also one of the indicators of the degree of deer damage (Fujiki et al 2010;Kishimoto et al 2010). However, the development of understory vegetation differs depending on the light environment in the forest floor, and there are forest stands where understory vegetation is underdeveloped regardless of deer damage (Kiyono 1990;Ito 1996;Ito et al 2008;Yamagawa et al 2009).…”

Section: Field Signs Used For Discomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Surveys that cover extensive areas, especially those that span more than one climatic or vegetation zone, will often show differences in the composition of the plants growing on the forest floor (Williams et al 2000;Fletcher et al 2001;Pavlovic et al 2014;Blossey et al 2017;Curtis et al 2021), which is considered to be difficult to survey using specific indicator plants. In addition, stand structure, such as the coverage of understory vegetation and the presence or absence of browsing lines, are also important indicators of the degree of deer impact (Fujiki et al 2010;Kishimoto et al 2010;Ohashi et al 2014). However, deer impact cannot be evaluated by these indicators in stands where the understory vegetation is originally underdeveloped.…”

Section: Submitted To Same Jfr Special Issue)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the impact of deer on young trees in a Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) plantation based on field signs

Yamagawa¹,

Kitahara²,

Otani³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Predicting the level of damage caused by deer browsing in young plantations is important for selecting appropriate damage control measures. In this study, we examined a method for assessing the level of deer damage in young Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) plantations by observing field signs of deer. First, a questionnaire survey was conducted to obtain information about the damage caused by deer browsing on planted trees and the extent of field signs, such as browsing marks and deer fecal pellets in young plantations where deer-proof fences were installed. The extent of field signs was recorded as qualitative data (i.e., "None", "A few", and "Many"). A multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) of these relationships revealed a relationship between the extent of deer damage in young plantations and the presence of five field signs (browsing marks, bark stripping marks, fecal pellets, trails and tracks). Based on the coordinate values of each field sign obtained using the MCA, the extent of each field sign was scored, and the total value was calculated as the deer impact score (DISco). When the relationship between the DISco and the extent of deer damage to planted trees was subjected to a logistic regression analysis (LRA), the DISco was found to be a significant explanatory variable and the LRA was an effective model (AUC of 0.7122 and 0.7794, respectively) for predicting the probability of stand damage and High stand damage. Therefore, the DISco was shown to be an effective tool for assessing the impact of deer in young Sugi plantations.

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“…Other reasons for the increase in ungulate populations include changes in land-use; for instance, the aging of local residents and depopulation of rural mountainous regions in Japan have increased the number of abandoned fields that become overgrown with brush, ultimately increasing the habitat available for those species (Sakurai 2019). The population density of deer has increased to more than 20 deer/km² in some regions (e.g., Kishimoto et al 2010). The rise in the wildlife population has also increased human-wildlife conflict, and the current annual cost of agricultural damage caused by terrestrial mammals is estimated to be approximately 13 billion yen (about US$130 million; Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries 2021).…”

Section: Loop Diagram Based On the Potential Reintroduction Of Wolvesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing a system model for articulating the social-ecological impacts of species reintroduction

Sakurai,

Uehara,

Tsunoda

et al. 2024

E&S

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Reintroducing locally extinct/extirpated species has been considered as an approach for restoring ecosystems. Although such projects share the same goals of rebuilding previously affected ecosystems, the overall impacts that such reintroductions generate on both ecosystems and human society, i.e., on the social-ecological system, are difficult to measure. We propose a system dynamics approach, a platform on which both natural and social scientists could collaborate to identify the social-ecological impacts of species reintroduction as well as factors that affect such decision making. We use cases in Japan to demonstrate the potential applicability of system dynamics in terms of (1) understanding the impacts of a previously reintroduced species, the Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana), and (2) predicting the impacts of reintroduction of wolves (Canis lupus). We present a causal loop diagram of the social and ecological effects of Oriental Stork reintroduction, and we discuss how the relationships between factors could be articulated based on empirical data and ongoing projects in Japan. The model demonstrates how local residents began to appreciate the rich biodiversity, including the Oriental Stork, following its reintroduction, and how public support toward such reintroduction enhanced further projects to reintroduce these species in different parts of Japan. A similar diagram, created to illustrate the social and ecological effects of the potential reintroduction of wolves to Japan, demonstrates how social factors such as environmental education and public attitudes could affect decision making as well as ecological factors such as predator-prey dynamics and overall biodiversity. Further, humanwolf conflicts could negatively affect the overall loop. Creating causal loop diagrams can help managers and stakeholders understand that species reintroduction projects need to be considered via an interdisciplinary approach. The models illustrate that these problems are dynamic and that the factors affecting or affected by such projects change over time, implying the importance of both the spatial and temporal scales in managing reintroduction projects.

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Management approach using simple indices of deer density and status of understory vegetation for conserving deciduous hardwood forests on a regional scale

Cited by 13 publications

References 36 publications

Regional‐scale effects of deer‐induced forest degradation on river ecosystem dynamics

Regional‐scale effects of deer‐induced forest degradation on river ecosystem dynamics

Assessing the impact of deer on young trees in a Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) plantation based on field signs

Developing a system model for articulating the social-ecological impacts of species reintroduction

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