Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Changes in spatial patterns of sika deer distribution and herbivory of planted seedlings: a comparison before and after deer population control by culling

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Forest Research

Abstract

Sika deer (Cervus nippon) sometimes cause extensive damage to planted tree seedlings. To evaluate the effects of culling on the spatial distribution patterns of sika deer and browse damage to planted seedlings, we compared the data collected before and after experimental culling in a cool, temperate, mixed forest on Kyushu Island, Japan. Experimental culling, conducted in an area of 1 km2, removed five, four and two sika deer in April, June and October 2011, respectively. During the year before culling, the spatial pattern of the number of sika deer caught on camera corresponded to the predicted sika deer density. Sika deer immediately browsed planted seedlings after the initial planting. The cumulative number of browsed seedlings increased over time, especially in winter. The spatial pattern of the cumulative number of sika deer caught on camera corresponded to that of browsed seedlings at the year’s end. During the year when culling was conducted, the number of sika deer caught on camera decreased around the center of the study site where the culling was conducted and the number of browsed seedlings decreased. During the year following culling, the cumulative number of browsed seedlings was very similar to that in the year before the culling, while the same low number of sika deer was caught on camera. These results indicate that the effects of deer culling resulted in decreased levels of sika deer appearance and browse damage for more than 1 year and for several months, respectively.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akashi N, Nakashizuka T (1999) Effects of bark-stripping by Sika deer (Cervus nippon) on population dynamics of a mixed forest in Japan. For Ecol Manag 113:75–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akashi N, Terazawa K (2005) Bark stripping damage to conifer plantation in relation to the abundance of sika deer in Hokkaido, Japan. For Ecol Manag 208:77–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akashi N, Unno A, Terazawa K (2011) Effects of deer abundance on broad-leaf tree seedling establishment in the understory of Abies sachanlinensis plantations. J For Res 16:500–508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borkowski J (2000) Influence of the density of a sika deer population on activity, habitat use, and group size. Can J Zool 78:1369–1374

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cho K, Enoki T, Tashiro N, Mabuchi T, Inoue S, Ogata T (2013) Efficiency and cost of nuisance deer population control in Ashoro Research Forest. Bull Kyushu Univ For 94:30–39 (in Japanese with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  • Côte SD, Rooney TP, Trembla J, Dussault C, Waller DM (2004) Ecological impacts of deer overabundance. Annu Rev Ecol Evol Syst 35:113–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flueck WT (2010) Exotic deer in southern Latin America: what do we know about impacts on native deer and on ecosystems? Biol Invasions 12:1909–1922

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forestry Agency of Japan (2013) Annual report on forest and forestry in Japan: Fiscal year 2013. Appendix: 5 (in Japanese)

  • Fuller RJ, Gill RMA (2001) Ecological impacts of increasing numbers of deer in British woodland. Forestry 74:193–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gill RMA (1992) A review of damage by mammals in north temperate forests: 3. Impacts on trees and forests. Forestry 65:363–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hester AJ, Edenius L, Buttenshôn RM, Kuiters AT (2000) Interactions between forests and herbivores: the role of controlled grazing experiments. Forestry 73:381–391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inoue S, Koizumi T (1996) Damage of forest vegetation by sika deer in natural forests at Miyazaki Experimental Forest of Kyushu University in Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu. Kyushu J For Res 49:105–106 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ito H, Hino T (2005) How do deer affect tree seedlings on a dwarf bamboo-dominated forest floor? Ecol Res 20:121–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kabemura Y, Kubota K, Kaji K, Shiiba Y, Inoue S, Mabuchi T, Utsumi Y, Enoki T (2010) Mammals monitoring in Shiiba Research Forest. Bull Kyushu Univ For 91:29–33 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamler J, Homolka M, Barančeková M, Krojerova-Prokesŏvá J (2010) Reduction of herbivore density as a tool for reduction of herbivore browsing on palatable tree species. Eur J For Res 129:155–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kishimoto Y, Fujiki D, Sakata H (2010) Management approach using simple indices of deer density and status of understory vegetation for conserving deciduous hardwood forests on a regional scale. J For Res 15:265–273

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koda R, Fujita N (2011) Is deer herbivory directory proportional to deer population density? Comparison of deer feeding frequencies among six forests with different deer density. For Ecol Manag 262:432–439

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar S, Shibata E (2007) Establishment and growth of coniferous seedlings in an altered forest floor after long-term exclusion of deer. J For Res 12:306–311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miura S, Tokida K (2009) Management strategy of sika deer based on sensitivity analysis. In: McCllough DR, Takatsuki S, Kaji K (eds) Sika deer: biology and management of native and introduced populations. Springer, Tokyo, pp 453–474

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Miyaki M, Kaji K (2004) Summer forage biomass and the importance of litterfall for high-density sika deer population. Ecol Res 19:405–409

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murata I, Saruki S, Kubota K, Inoue S, Tashiro N, Enoki T, Utsumi Y, Inoue S (2009a) Effects of sika deer (Cervus nippon) and dwarf bamboo (Sasamorpha borealis) on seedling emergence and survival in cool-temperate mixed forests in the Kyushu Mountains. J For Res 14:296–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murata I, Inoue S, Yabe T, Kabemura Y, Kaji K, Kubota K, Mabuchi T, ShiibaY Utsumi Y (2009b) Sika deer density and vegetation changes for 37 years in Shiiba Research Forest. Bull Kyushu Univ For 90:13–24 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagaike T (2012) Effects of browsing by sika deer (Cervus nippon) on subalpine vegetation at Mt. Kita, central Japan. Ecol Res 27:467–473

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nagaike T, Hayashi A (2003) Bark-stripping by Sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Larix kaempferi plantations in central Japan. For Ecol Manag 175:563–572

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nomiya H, Suzuki W, Kanazashi T, Shibata M, Tanaka H, Nakashizuka T (2002) The response of forest floor vegetation and tree regeneration to deer exclusion and disturbance in a riparian deciduous forest, central Japan. Plant Ecol 164:263–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien TG, Kinnaird MF, Wibisono HT (2003) Crouching tigers, hidden prey: Sumatran tiger and prey populations in a tropical forest landscape. Anim Conserv 6:131–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Putman RJ (2012) Effects of heavy culling on population distribution at a landscape scale: an analytical modeling approach. Eur J Wildl Res 58:781–796

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Putman RJ, Duncan P, Scott R (2005) Demographic changes in Scottish red deer population (Cervus elaphus L.) in response to sustained and heavy culling: an analysis of trends in deer populations of Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve 1986-2001. For Ecol Manag 206:263–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R Development Core Team (2011) R: a language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna. ISBN 3-900051-07-0. http://www.R-project.org/

  • Rooney TP (2001) Deer impacts on forest ecosystems: a North American perspective. Forestry 74:201–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rooney TP, Waller DM (2003) Direct and indirect effects of white-tailed deer in forest ecosystems. For Ecol Manag 181:165–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki M, Miyashita T, Kabaya H, Ochiai K, Asada M, Tange T (2008) Deer density affects ground-layer vegetation differently in conifer plantations and hardwood forests on the Boso Peninsula, Japan. Ecol Res 23:151–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takatsuki S (1983) The importance of Sasa nipponica as a forage for sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Omote-Nikko. Jpn J Ecol 33:17–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Takatsuki S (1989) Edge effects created by clear-cutting on habitat use by sika deer on Mt. Goyo, northern Honshu, Japan. Ecol Res 4:287–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takatsuki S (2009) Effects of sika deer on vegetation in Japan: a review. Biol Conserv 142:1922–1929

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takatsuki S, Gorai T (1994) Effects of Sika deer on the regeneration of a Fagus crenata forest on Kinkazan Island, northern Japan. Ecol Res 9:115–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tanentzap AJ, Burrows LE, Lee WG, Nugent G, Maxwell GM, Cooms DE (2009) Landscape-level vegetation recovery from herbivory: progress after four decades of invasive red deer control. J Appl Ecol 46:1064–1072

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tanentzap AJ, Kirby KJ, Goldberg E (2012) Slow response to reductions in deer (Cervidae) populations and strategies for achieving recovery. For Ecol Manag 264:159–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsujino R, Yumoto T (2004) Effects of sika deer on tree seedlings in a warm temperate forest on Yakushima Island, Japan. Ecol Res 19:291–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ueno M, Kaji K, Saitoh T (2010) Culling verses density effects in management of a deer population. J Wildl Manag 74:1472–1483

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wardle DA, Barker GM, Yeates GW, Bonner KI, Ghani A (2001) Introduced browsing mammals in New Zealand natural forests: aboveground and belowground consequences. Ecol Monogr 71:587–614

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watts DE, Parker ID, Lopez RR, Silvy NJ, Davis DS (2008) Distribution and abundance of endangered Florida Key deer on outer islands. J Wildl Manag 72:360–366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yabe T (1995) A fundamental study on habitat management for wildlife: habitat use of sika deer and a change in the vegetation on Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido. Res Bull Hokkaido Univ For 52:115–180

    Google Scholar 

  • Yabe T, Koizumi T, Endo A, Seki S, Miura Y (2001) Home ranges of sika deer in Kyushu Central Mountains. Kyushu J For Res 54:131–132 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yabe T, Toubou K, Yoshiyama K (2007) Rumen contents of sika deer in deciduous forest zone of Kyushu Mountains. Kyushu J For Res 60:99–100 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yasuda M (2004) Monitoring diversity and abundance of mammals with camera traps: a case study on Mount Tsukuba, central Japan. Mam Stud 29:37–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yayota C, Koizumi T, Enoki T (2013) Validity of culling techniques for management of overabundant sika deer. For Pests 62:258–262 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yokoyama M, Kaji K, Suzuki M (2000) Food habits of sika deer and nutritional value of sika deer diets in eastern Hokkaido, Japan. Ecol Res 15:345–355

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank C. Yayota for her help with the culling and valuable comments on the manuscript. We thank H. Nomiya for his cooperation implementing our study. We are grateful to the staff of the Shiiba Research Forest, Kyushu University for their help and support during the field surveys. A project of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council of Japan designed for the promotion of scientific research techniques and to benefit the agricultural, forestry, fisheries and food industries of Japan partly supported this study (22030).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shiiba Research Forest, Kyushu University, 949 Okawachi, Shiiba, Miyazaki, 883-0402, Japan

    Tsutomu Enoki

  2. Kyushu Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 4-11-16 Kurokami, Kumamoto, 860-0862, Japan

    Tsuneaki Yabe

  3. Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8687, Japan

    Toru Koizumi

Authors
  1. Tsutomu Enoki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tsuneaki Yabe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Toru Koizumi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tsutomu Enoki.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Enoki, T., Yabe, T. & Koizumi, T. Changes in spatial patterns of sika deer distribution and herbivory of planted seedlings: a comparison before and after deer population control by culling. J For Res 21, 84–91 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-015-0515-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-015-0515-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation