Assessments of Grazing Damages by Sika Deer on Sprouting of Deciduous Fagaceae

Toward Appropriate Provision against Animal Damages

Abstract

This study aims to report the impact assessment of grazing damage by Sika deer on stubs of deciduous Fagaceae in Tsushima Island, Nagasaki Prefecture. Shiitake-mushroom production in Tsushima has depended on natural resprouting of deciduous trees. Dataset on stubs of Quercus serrata and Q. variabiris under grazing damages were collected at 4 woodlands which different periods passed after logging for Shiitake-mushroom production. Results of statistical analysis and binomial logistic regression analysis revealed that grazing damage to shaft of sprouts are available as indices for deciding the appropriate term for establishing fences to prevent grazing damages during resprouting period.