Honyurui Kagaku (Mammalian Science)
Online ISSN : 1881-526X
Print ISSN : 0385-437X
ISSN-L : 0385-437X
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Volume 48, Issue 2
Displaying 1-18 of 18 articles from this issue
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Review
  • Long-term studies on the food habits of mammals
    Yamato Tsuji, Seiki Takatsuki
    2008 Volume 48 Issue 2 Pages 221-235
    Published: 2008
    Released on J-STAGE: January 06, 2009
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11238/mammalianscience.48.221
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
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    We conducted a review of long-term studies on the food habits of mammals to better understand its present situation. We searched major scientific bibliographic databases (BIOSIS and Google Scholar) and found 99 case studies from 93 published articles. Study terms varied from 2 to 16 years. There was a gap between the number of case studies and the number of species constituting a given Order: there were many studies dealing with Carnivora and Primates relative to their species number, while there were fewer studies on Rodentia and Chiroptera. Long-term studies on food habits have been increasing. Many studies employed fecal analyses, though there was an order-specific tendency for methods to study the food habits of animals. More than 80 percent of the studies indicated annual differences in food composition. However, most studies have not collected food availability data, and further fewer studies showed the effect of yearly changes in food habits on population parameters. Knowledge on long-term food habits of animals would contribute not only to fundamental ecology, but also to other research fields like seed dispersal and animal behavior, and toward developing conservation strategies.
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Original Articles
  • Semi-real time tracking system of Japanese black bears using low earth orbit satellite communications
    Koji Yamazaki, Naotomo Hayashi, Koji Yokoyama, Shigeru Hosokawa, Koji ...
    2008 Volume 48 Issue 2 Pages 237-243
    Published: 2008
    Released on J-STAGE: January 06, 2009
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11238/mammalianscience.48.237
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    We tested the performance of a semi-real time tracking system of Japanese black bears Ursus thibetanus japonicus using a low earth orbit communications satellite (Whale Ecology Observation Satellite: WEOS) that was assembled from market products. The WEOS tracks bears using a collar transmitter that carries a data recorder for GPS position. The GPS positioning data is transferred when the WEOS is overhead of the collared bear. We first evaluated communication performance of a stationary transmitter on a flat area (sky view: 30.83%) and in a valley bottom (sky view: 28.39%), and then deployed a collar type transmitter on a free-ranging male bear. Visible passes of WEOS at each stationary sits were 5 to 6 times/day. Communication success ratios from the transmitter to WEOS declined at the valley bottom and the free-ranging bear than the flat land (72.5%: n&εθυαλσ;195). However, we confirmed that the data transmitted successfully 1.02 times/day. Assuming data transmission at each communication can be increased after this, the semi-real time tracking system using the WEOS will be very useful.
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  • Present status of a wild boar (Sus scrofa) population estimated by sighting per unit effort (SPUE), and relationships to snowfall, vegetation, hunting effort, agricultural damages and the SPUE of Sika deer (Cervus nippon)
    Hiroshi Sakata, Hiromitsu Samejima, Mayumi Yokoyama
    2008 Volume 48 Issue 2 Pages 245-253
    Published: 2008
    Released on J-STAGE: January 06, 2009
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11238/mammalianscience.48.245
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    To better manage wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations, we analyzed the relationships between sighting per unit effort (SPUE) of wild boar in gun hunting, and environmental factors affecting wild boars and agricultural damages. Path analysis suggested that snow fall and proportion of secondary deciduous forest had positive path coefficients on the SPUE of wild boar, and the SPUE of Sika deer (Cervus nippon) and gun hunting effort had negative path coefficients. Gun hunting effort was lower in areas of heavier snow. Interactions between snow fall and hunting affecting wild boar, and indirect competition between wild boar and Sika deer through vegetation damage by Sika deer, are both possible. SPUE of wild boar was significantly correlated to agricultural damage, and the relationship had different features from that of Sika deer. On the basis of these results, SPUE can be a target index for population management and helpful to select appropriate methods that depend on local conditions.
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  • Growth, allometry and sex-related differences in captive sea otters, Enhydra lutris
    Masashi Kiyota, Shiroh Yonezaki, Kaoru Kohyama, Akira Furuta, Masayuki ...
    2008 Volume 48 Issue 2 Pages 255-263
    Published: 2008
    Released on J-STAGE: January 06, 2009
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11238/mammalianscience.48.255
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    We analyzed post-mortem measurement data on the external morphology of 22 captive sea otters Enhydra lutris in Izu Mito Sea Paradise, Shizuoka, Japan from 1988 to 2005. Growth curves calculated from the length at age data indicated that males grew faster and larger and exhibited sexual dimorphism in body size. Male and female growth rates estimated in this study were equivalent to or higher than those recorded in wild sea otters under good nutritional conditions. Allometry of body parts relative to body lengths was analyzed using generalized linear models and model selection. Sexual differences in allometry patterns were not apparent. Head, mouth, forelimb and palm showed negative allometory, and hindlimb and tail showed isometry. The negative allometric patterns of head and limb appear to be related to the adaptation of precocial young to aquatic life.
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  • Features of hoarding areas in Formosan Squirrels
    Yukiko Sato, Katsuji Uetake, Toshio Tanaka
    2008 Volume 48 Issue 2 Pages 265-270
    Published: 2008
    Released on J-STAGE: January 06, 2009
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11238/mammalianscience.48.265
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    Hoarding behavior to keep, preserve and conceal food has been described for squirrels in northern temperate climates; however, it has been less documented for Formosan squirrels Callosciurus erythraeus in southern subtropical climates. We surveyed the role of landmarks on the behavior of Formosan squirrels as well as other squirrels in field. Five California walnuts were given to each of four wild squirrels. Squirrels hoarded walnuts freely. We investigated microhabitat, plants species, trunk circumferences and the number of plants on hoarding sites. Squirrels tended to hoard walnuts in grassy and forested areas, and selected microhabitat in which Japanese Laurel dominated. They selected areas where there were only two plants present rather than many densely packed plants. This study clarified that Formosan squirrels selected characteristic hoarding sites with landmarks, as do squirrels living in temperate climates.
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Short Communication
  • Reproductive activity of the Smith’s Red-backed vole (Eothenomys smithii) at Mt. Kumotori, Chichibu Mountains, eastern Honshu, Japan
    Takashi Tateishi
    2008 Volume 48 Issue 2 Pages 271-276
    Published: 2008
    Released on J-STAGE: January 06, 2009
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11238/mammalianscience.48.271
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    Reproductive activity of the Smith’s Red-backed vole (Eothenomys smithii) was studied in a woodland at 1,000–2,000 m altitude at Mt. Kumotori, Chichibu Mountains, eastern Honshu, Japan. The present surveys were carried out from April 1981 to October 1986. The specimens investigated were 48 males and 44 females. Males and females with body weights of 17.1 g or more were regarded as adults, according to the developmental conditions of genital organs. 71.0% (31/48 individuals) of adult males and 56.7% (30/46 individuals) of adult females were actively reproductive. Two pregnant, lactating females were observed, and pregnancy twice and more times during each breeding season was confirmed. Mean embryo size was 2.13 in eight pregnant females. The breeding season for E. smithii in this area was estimated as occurring from March to September, based on the period when reproductively active individuals were captured, and on the estimated copulation time from observed lactation and capture times of dams with juveniles.
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Report
Series
Award Recipients
Reports on the International Conference
The historical significance of 2009 Annual Meeting at Taipei
Invitation to IMC10
Postscript of edit on Mammalogy in Japan
Book Reviews
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