Abstract
This study, we identified the wild mammals damaging white skunk cabbage (Lysichiton camtschatcense Schott) community on Yamanakatouge marsh located in Central Japan, and clarified the occurrence of disturbance caused by wild mammals. From July 8, 2010 to December 31, camera traps had been put in for identifying the wild mammals disturbing Yamanakatouge marsh. The types and occurrence of disturbance of Yamanakatouge marsh were also investigated by belt transect census on July 7. As a result of Camera trap method, these were confirmed that sika deer (Cervus nippon Temmink) had been browsing the top part of white skunk cabbage, and sika deer and wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) had been digging the root part of white skunk cabbage up. As a result of belt transect census, the plant species browsed by wildlife was only a white skunk cabbage among four dominant plant species. In addition, disturbance seemed to be observed frequently at the point where white skunk cabbage was distributed. The residua of white skunk cabbage of which root part were eaten by wild mammals were also observed in field observations. The results in this study suggest that the recent disturbance of white skunk cabbage community was caused by the browsing and digging of sika deer and wild boar.
