Land abandonment and changes in snow cover period accelerate range expansions of sika deer

Abstract

Ongoing climate change and land‐use change have the potential to substantially alter the distribution of large herbivores. This may result in drastic changes in ecosystems by changing plant–herbivore interactions. Here, we developed a model explaining sika deer persistence and colonization between 25 years in terms of neighborhood occupancy and habitat suitability. We used climatic, land‐use, and topographic variables to calculate the habitat suitability and evaluated the contributions of the variables to past range changes of sika deer. We used this model to predict the changes in the range of sika deer over the next 100 years under four scenario groups with the combination of land‐use change and climate change. Our results showed that both climate change and land‐use change had affected the range of sika deer in the past 25 years. Habitat suitability increased in northern or mountainous regions, which account for 71.6% of Japan, in line with a decrease in the snow cover period. Habitat suitability decreased in suburban areas, which account for 28.4% of Japan, corresponding to land‐use changes related to urbanization. In the next 100 years, the decrease in snow cover period and the increase in land abandonment were predicted to accelerate the range expansion of sika deer. Comparison of these two driving factors revealed that climate change will contribute more to range expansion, particularly from the 2070s onward. In scenarios that assumed the influence of both climate change and land‐use change, the total sika deer range increased by between +4.6% and +11.9% from the baseline scenario. Climate change and land‐use change will require additional efforts for future management of sika deer, particularly in the long term.

A strategy for wildlife management in depopulating rural areas of Japan

“…2), a phenomenon observed in some mountainous areas, where wildlife populations survived in the past (e.g., Chugoku and Shikoku regions, western Japan [Supporting Information]), but currently spreading to suburban regions at lower elevations (Miura & Tokida 2009; Ohashi et al. 2016; Saito et al. 2016).…”

“…For example, a habitat analysis suggests that increases in cropland abandonment and decreases in hunting pressure that would follow depopulation would accelerate the expansion of wildlife ranges (Ohashi et al. 2016; Saito et al. 2016).…”

Breeding of Androgen Receptor (AR) Gene and Its Relationship with Antler Production in Sika Deer

“…Oral pilose antler protein extract can significantly prolong the survival time, which shows that pilose antler protein has anti-tumor effect. Pilose antler polysaccharides are beneficial to the treatment of tumors, because they can kill tumor cells by activating the immune system and have more obvious differentiation induction effect when the gas immune function is reduced [8].…”

Reforestation following harvesting of conifer plantations in Japan: Current issues from silvicultural and ecological perspectives

“…The rapid increase in the sika deer population has caused economic and ecological losses in forestry, especially since the 1990s, and has impacted agriculture and ecosystem conservation (Takatsuki 2009). Several factors appear to have triggered and accelerated the increase of sika deer populations since the late 1980s: decreased mortality induced by warm winters and less snowfall, increased carrying capacity generated by logged sites and pastures, reduced human activities and hunting pressure in the countryside, abandonment of farmlands due to the decreasing and aging human population, and elimination of gray wolves (Canis lupis Linnaeus) (Miura and Tokida 2009;Uno et al 2009;Ohashi et al 2016). The increase in favorable habitats for sika deer (e.g., the recovery of forest areas following clear-cutting in the 1960s-1970s in mountainous areas, and the abandonment of farmlands and secondary forests around villages) appears to explain the expansion of sika deer populations throughout Japan during the past few decades (Agetsuma 2013).…”