Diet of Japanese Weasels (<i>Mustela itatsi</i>) in a Sub-Urban Landscape: Implications for Year-Round Persistence of Local Populations

Kaneko, Yayoi; Shibuya, Masako; Yamaguchi, Nobuyuki; Fujii, Takeshi; Okumura, Tadanobu; Matsubayashi, Kenichi; Hioki, Yoshiyuki

doi:10.3106/041.034.0205

Cited by 16 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Katsuragi: Kusui and Kusui 1998), and was similar to the total identified fruits on which European martens (Martes foina and M. martes) fed (15-30 species from 940 to 1739 fecal samples: Rosalino and Santos-Reis 2009). Conversely, despite several reports describing the frugivory of Japanese weasels (Fujii et al 1998;Koike and Masaki 2008;Kaneko et al 2009), a detailed examination of their role in seed dispersal has not been conducted until now. We found that weasels ingested the seeds of 17 different plant species (from 97 fecal samples) during the study period.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Endozoochorous seed dispersal by sympatric mustelids, Martes melampus and Mustela itatsi, in western Tokyo, central Japan

Tsuji¹,

Tatewaki²,

Kanda³

2011

Mammalian Biology

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a b s t r a c tWe investigated seed dispersal by two sympatric mustelid species, the Japanese marten (Martes melampus) and Japanese weasel (Mustela itatsi), along an intercity forest path in western Tokyo, central Japan, from Jul 2007 to Jul 2008. We aimed to investigate the effect of food/habitat preference of these mustelids (martens are semi-arboreal frugivores while weasels are terrestrial carnivores) on their seed dispersal characteristics, which determine their efficacy as seed dispersers. In total, we analyzed 478 fecal samples collected from the two mustelids (N marten = 381, N weasel = 97). The proportions of feces containing seeds for martens and weasels were 81.4% and 55.7%, respectively. The number of plant species whose seeds were found within the feces were 28 and 17, respectively. Almost all seeds within feces of both mustelids were intact. The number of plant species whose seeds were found within a single fecal sample ranged from one to four, but no significant difference was detected between the two mustelids. However, marten feces contained a significantly greater number of seeds of most plant species as well as total number of seeds than did weasel feces. The numbers of plant species and seeds represented in marten feces varied seasonally, but those represented in weasel feces did not. Our findings suggest the possibility that both mustelids act in some ways as seed dispersers, although martens seem to disperse a greater diversity and total amount of seeds.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Endozoochorous seed dispersal by sympatric mustelids, Martes melampus and Mustela itatsi, in western Tokyo, central Japan

Tsuji¹,

Tatewaki²,

Kanda³

2011

Mammalian Biology

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“…were 20 times more likely to enter the watercourse, where they were a significant source of food (60% of their annual energy intake) for endangered Japanese trout (Salvelinus leucomaenis japonicus). In paddy fields and other riparian habitats in suburban areas (Kaneko et al 2009), orthopterans were recorded in high abundance, consequently forming an important component (21.5% of food items) in the diet of the Japanese weasel Mustela itatsi. On open riverside plains, waterbirds feed on grasshoppers before and after the harvest in rice field wetlands (Fujioka et al 2010), while on Sado Island, paddy field Orthoptera are essential in the diet of the endangered crested ibis Nipponia nippon (Yoshio et al 2009; Table 2).…”

Section: The Overlooked Orthopteramentioning

confidence: 99%

Big in Japan: The importance of riparian corridors for Orthoptera

Gardiner¹,

Kuramoto²,

Matsuba³

2019

JOR

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There are few studies on the Orthoptera of the floodplains, paddy fields, and levee embankments of Japan’s riparian corridors. The research which has been undertaken indicates a relatively rich fauna (33% of Japan’s grasshopper species recorded) with endangered species (e.g. Eusphingonotusjaponicus) found on gravel floodplains, although diversity is restricted by forest cover and unfavorable land uses (e.g. agriculture). Management should focus on the alteration of levee mowing regimes to benefit orthopterans, and the control of invasive plant species and successional processes along river corridors, which appears to be important for grasshoppers of gravel substrates. Integrated Green Grey Infrastructure (IGGI) measures (levee terraces of Asteraceae plants) may enhance populations of Orthoptera and conserve declining plants such as Astertripolium in Tokyo. More research is required throughout Japan to accurately determine the orthopteran fauna and appropriate conservation measures, particularly along super levees and in paddy fields.

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“…According to the Japanese weasel faecal analysis protocol of Kaneko et al [2009a, originally from badger Meles spp. faecal sample analysis protocol of Kruuk (1978Kruuk ( , 1989, Yamamoto (1994) and Kaneko et al (2001Kaneko et al ( , 2006], it involve a procedure for detecting the presence of earthworms.…”

Section: Diet Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ecological characteristics of Japanese weasels, food have been studied previously (Yukawa 1968;Otsu 1971;Asahi 1975;Higashi 1988;Fujii et al 1998;Kaneko et al 2009a), it is known that the weasels use natural food resources mainly but non- (Fujii et al 1998). Although the Mustela species diets show specialization to mammals with lagomorphs, rodents and shrews reported in M. nivalis in Europe (Erlinge King and Powell 2007), but in Asian temperate/subtropical zone, insects frequently appeared in food almost year-round, thus this may cause weasels to switch food items to 30 non-mammal items (Wu 1999;Kaneko et al 2009a). …”

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confidence: 98%

Notes on Stomach Contents of Japanese Weasels (Mustela itatsi) in Ibaraki, Japan

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Diet of Japanese Weasels (Mustela itatsi) in a Sub-Urban Landscape: Implications for Year-Round Persistence of Local Populations

Cited by 16 publications

References 11 publications

Endozoochorous seed dispersal by sympatric mustelids, Martes melampus and Mustela itatsi, in western Tokyo, central Japan

Endozoochorous seed dispersal by sympatric mustelids, Martes melampus and Mustela itatsi, in western Tokyo, central Japan

Big in Japan: The importance of riparian corridors for Orthoptera

Notes on Stomach Contents of Japanese Weasels (Mustela itatsi) in Ibaraki, Japan

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