Habitat evaluation of red pine [Pinus densiflora] forest as a habitat of Japanese squirrels, Sciurus lis
2007
Tamura, N.(Forestry and Forest Products Research Inst., Hachioji, Tokyo (Japan). Tama Forest Science Garden) | Aikyo, C. | Kataoka, T.
The Japanese squirrel (Sciurus lis) is largely dependent on Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora) for their habitat, and its local extinction are supposed to be affected by the expansion of a pine wilt disease. In this study, we examined the relationship between number of food remain and the density of squirrels in 43 ha study area of pine forest at northern Mt. Fuji from June 2003 to August 2005. The density of squirrels was estimated by trapping and radio-tracking. Food remains of pine cones on the forest floor were counted every month. The number of cones eaten by squirrels was significantly correlated with the density of squirrels. Next, based on these density criteria of the food remains, we determined a suitable structure of the pine forests for squirrels. The vegetation and the number of remained cones were compared 30 woodlots within 15 square km area of northern Mt. Fuji. Squirrels tended to use more frequently the forest with more number of tree species and evergreen trees in the middle layer.
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