Sakuragi, M., Igota, H., Uno, H., Kaji, K., Kaneko, M., Akamatsu, R. & Maekawa, K. 2003: Seasonal habitat selection of an expanding sika deer Cervus nippon population in eastern Hokkaido, Japan. - Wildl. Biol. 9: 141-153.
Sika deer Cervus nippon in Hokkaido, Japan, have recovered from a population bottleneck about 120 years ago and their distribution has expanded rapidly in the last three decades. We tracked 53 radio-collared female sika deer, and obtained 4,430 locations during the 25-month study period from April 1997 to April 1999. We examined the seasonal distribution of female sika deer in relation to spatial landscape features (snow depth, vegetation, bamboo grass and roads) with a logistic regression model using a geographic information system database. We presented a population-landscape scale evaluation of sika deer habitat for summer and winter within the telemetry study area (TSA) using resource selection functions. We then extrapolated the model to the rest of eastern Hokkaido to discuss the seasonal migration for an expanding population. Most radio-collared sika deer (71%) moved between high-elevation summer and low-elevation winter ranges, whereas some (29%) moved between lowelevation summer and similar or high-elevation winter ranges. During winter, sika deer selected middle elevation habitats (200-400 m a.s.l.) with both a relatively low snow depth and the presence of coniferous and mixed forests. On the other hand, sika deer were widely distributed regardless of elevation during summer, although they were further from roads and less often in agricultural lands. Within the TSA, the suitable habitat was very limited during winter compared with during summer. Although migration from summer to winter ranges may depend on the abundance and distribution of suitable winter habitat at a landscape scale, migration from winter to summer ranges could not be explained from this study. Our approach is useful for understanding the relationships among seasonal habitat selection, seasonal migration and the expansion of the population.
Key words: Cervus nippon, geographic information system, habitat selection, logistic regression, radio-telemetry, resource selection function, sika deer
Mayumi Sakuragi, Hiromasa Igota & Koji Maekawa, Laboratory of Boreal Forest Conservation, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, N.9W.9 Kita-Ku, Sapporo 060-0809, Japan - e-mail addresses: sakuram@cocoa.ocn.ne.jp (Mayumi Sakuragi); igota@cocoa.ocn.ne.jp (Hiromasa Igota); mkoji@ffc.hokudai.as.jp (Koji Maekawa)
Hiroyuki Uno, Eastern Hokkaido Wildlife Research Station, Hokkaido Institute of Environmental Sciences, 2-2-54 Urami, Kushiro 085-0835, Japan - e-mail: uno@hokkaido-ies.go.jp
Koichi Kaji & Masami Kaneko*, Hokkaido Institute of Environmental Sciences, N.19W.12 Kita-Ku, Sapporo 060-0819, Japan - e-mail addresses: kaji@hokkaido-ies.go.jp (Koichi Kaji); kaneko@rakuno.ac.jp (Masami Kaneko)
Rika Akamatsu, EnVision, 5-2-201, N.9W.4 Kita-Ku, Sapporo 060-0809, Japan - e-mail: moe-ri@ivory.plala.or.jp
*Present address: Department of Regional Environment Studies, Faculty of Environment systems, Rakuno Gakuen University, 582, Midori-Machi, Bunkyodai, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan
Corresponding author: Koichi Kaji
Received 12 August 2002, accepted 22 November 2002
Associate Editor: Jan Lindström