To determine the effects of sika deer (Cervus nippon) browsing on the physical defences of the Japanese pricklyash "Zanthoxylum ailanthoides Sieb. et Zucc." (Rutaceae), we compared the length and density of prickles on Japanese islands which were under different browsing pressures. We measured the length and density of prickles on the midribs, leaf rachis, and stems. We found that the prickles of Z. ailanthoides on Kashima island were not significantly longer or at higher densities than those in the neighbouring areas; the longest pickles at the highest densities were found on Akune island. The density of sika deer on Akune (ca. 520 -600/km 2 ) was higher than that on Kashima (ca. 38.5/km 2 ), and consequently, Akune was under greater browsing pressure. Our results suggest that the increased length and density of prickles on Akune is a response by Z. ailanthoides to the high density of sika deer found on the island.

Kashima Island (32° 57′ N, 132° 27′ E) is a small island of southern Japan with high population density of sika deer (Cervus nippon). To ascertain whether heavy sika deer browsing has resulted in increased plant defences on the island, we conducted a morphological comparison of Rubus croceacanthus H. Lév. (Rosaceae) on Kashima Island and in the neighbouring areas on the mainland. We measured the length and density of the leaf and stem prickles. We found that the prickles of R. croceacanthus on Kashima Island were significantly longer and at a higher density than those in the neighbouring areas, suggesting that increased prickle length and density is an adaptive defence against sika deer browsing.

To clarify the modification of physical defences of Glochidion obovatum Sieb. et Zucc., we compared the length of spine-like branches and frequency of lateral branches of G. obovatum between Kashima Island, which supports a high density of sika deer (Cervus nippon), and its neighbouring areas. The length of spine-like branches of G. obovatum in Kashima Island was not significantly longer than that of the neighbouring areas, but the frequency of lateral branches on the island was higher than that of the neighbouring areas. Since the branches of G. obovatum are heavily foraged by the sika deer, the shrub form of the species has evolved into the bonsai form, suggesting increased frequency of occurrence of lateral branches, which could develop as shoot-like branches. Thus, the observed features are facultative defence mechanisms of G. obovatum against heavy browsing in a small-sized island with very high density of sika deer.