How to translate text using browser tools
1 June 2012 Seasonal Migration of Sika Deer in the Oku-Chichibu Mountains, Central Japan
Akiko Takii, Shigeyuki Izumiyama, Takashi Mochizuki, Tadanobu Okumura, Shigeru Sato
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Movements and seasonal home ranges of 6 GPS collared sika deer were investigated at the Oku-Chichibu Mountains, central Honshu, from April 2009 to March 2010. All deer migrated between discrete summer and winter home ranges. The linear migration distance ranged from 2.5 to 31.9 km. Mean elevation during the summer and the winter ranged from 980 to 1,782 m, and from 1,204 to 1,723 m, respectively. Two deer were upward migrants and 4 deer were downward migrants. Taking into consideration of the relatively small snow accumulation in the summer home range, the possibility of autumn migration to avoid deep snow is low. The percentage of steep slope in the winter home range was higher than that in the summer. Bamboo grass was not found in the summer home range, but was predominant in the winter home range. Road density decreased in the winter home range compared to the summer. Only 2 out of 6 deer stayed mainly in the wildlife protection area during the winter. Our results indicate that the autumn migration was affected by winter forage and human disturbance, thereby assured the survival of the deer during winter.

© The Mammal Society of Japan
Akiko Takii, Shigeyuki Izumiyama, Takashi Mochizuki, Tadanobu Okumura, and Shigeru Sato "Seasonal Migration of Sika Deer in the Oku-Chichibu Mountains, Central Japan," Mammal Study 37(2), 127-137, (1 June 2012). https://doi.org/10.3106/041.037.0203
Received: 17 August 2011; Accepted: 1 February 2012; Published: 1 June 2012
KEYWORDS
central Japan
Cervus nippon
GPS telemetry
seasonal migration
wildlife protection area
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top