Artificial influence on the distribution of the Japanese serow (Caprocornis crispus) feces on the urban forests
2005
Miyazawa, S.(Iwate Univ., Morioka (Japan)) | Aoi, T. | Deguchi, Y.
We investigated the distribution of the Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) feces piles in urban forests, in the Takizawa Research Forest of Iwate University. We manipulated all the feces distribution data by geographic information system (Software ArcView 3.2, ESRI);computed the distance of the piles from residential areas, streets, and railroads and generated the distribution schemas. During the period of the survey, we found 119 feces piles in total, and the locations were characterized by the following. Regarding the characteristics of canopy vegetation, the serows preferred the coniferous needle-leaved tree forests such as cedar to broad-leaved forests and red pine forests. They tend to avoid places within 200 m from residential areas and streets. Surprisingly, the distance from the railroads had less effect on number of feces piles. Thus, we conclude that serows are not fond of direct contact with people, although they inhabit places near the habitat of people.
اظهر المزيد [+] اقل [-]