BioOne.org will be down briefly for maintenance on 17 December 2024 between 18:00-22:00 Pacific Time US. We apologize for any inconvenience.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 December 2012 Partial Migration and Effects of Climate on Migratory Movements of Sika Deer in Kirigamine Highland, Central Japan
Akiko Takii, Shigeyuki Izumiyama, Makoto Taguchi
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Studies on migration pattern of sika deer in Japan are limited. We captured 27 sika deer and identified movement for 24 deer (17 females and 7 males) from 2008 to 2011 in Kirigamine Highland, Nagano, central Japan. Four juvenile males dispersed from their original home range, and we documented migration pattern for 23 deer (17 females and 6 males), including 3 dispersed males. Deer exhibited partial migration, regardless of sex: 65% (n = 15) of the deer were migratory, whereas 35% (n = 8) were non-migratory. All but 1 of the migratory deer migrated between high-elevation summer range and low-elevation winter range. Mean migration distance was 9.9 km (range = 3.2– 22.9 km). Fidelity to summer home range was stronger than fidelity to winter home range. In order to determine the effect of climate on the onset of migration at Kigiramine Highland, we examined 39 seasonal movements during 4 migratory periods. Most of autumn migrations occurred before the snow depth reached 20 cm. Spring migrations occurred after the daily temperatures > 0°C persisted for more than 3 days, and during periods when either snow had completely disappeared or snow melted rapidly.

© The Mammal Society of Japan
Akiko Takii, Shigeyuki Izumiyama, and Makoto Taguchi "Partial Migration and Effects of Climate on Migratory Movements of Sika Deer in Kirigamine Highland, Central Japan," Mammal Study 37(4), 331-340, (1 December 2012). https://doi.org/10.3106/041.037.0407
Received: 24 May 2012; Accepted: 7 September 2012; Published: 1 December 2012
KEYWORDS
central Japan
Cervus nippon
dispersal
migration
partial migration
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top