A comparison of food habits of two sympatric ruminants of Mt. Yatsugatake, central Japan: sika deer and Japanese serow

• Autorzy: Kobayashi K. , Takatsuki S.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Comparison of food habits of sympatric animals provides understanding of interspecific relations. Previous studies of food habits of the two ruminants of Japan, sika deer (Cervus nippon) and Japanese serows (Capricornis crispus), have shown that sika deer are variable, and they are gazers in northern Japan, but browsers in southern Japan, whereas Japanese serows are browsers. However, these studies described the food habits of each species separately, and no study has compared the food habits of these species living in sympatry. Therefore, we examined these species on Mt. Yatsugatake, central Japan, using microhistological analyses and nutritional analyses of feces. Sasa nipponica, a dwarf bamboo, predominated in the fecal composition of sika deer, whereas both S. nipponica and dicotyledonous plants were found in the feces of Japanese serows. Crude protein levels of serow feces were higher than those of deer. The particle sizes of plant fragments in serow feces were smaller than those in deer feces, suggesting that serow fed more selectively on digestible plants than deer did. These results support the suggestions of previous studies conducted in different habitats and show that sika deer are less selective grazers, and Japanese serows are more selective browsers. Thus, food differences are likely explained by the feeding ecophysiology of the animals and not habitat differences.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

comparison; food habit; sympatric species; ruminant; Yatsugatake Mountains; Central Japan; Japan; sika deer; Cervus nippon; Japanese serow; Capricornis crispus; Japanese goat-antelope zob.Japanese serow

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Acta Theriologica
• Rocznik: 2012
• Tom: 57
• Numer: 4
• Opis fizyczny: p.343-349,fig.,ref.

Twórcy

autor

Kobayashi K.

• Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan

autor

Takatsuki S.

• Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan

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