From the mid-1800s to around 1950, the Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata) was rarely seen by humans, because this animal had decreased greatly due to being harvested as a natural resource. After 1950, however, wild monkey parks were opened one after another, contributing to the local economy, nature-education of the general public, conservation of monkeys, reduction of crop damages and scientific studies. In 1972, there were 35 parks in total. But from thereon, the number of parks started to decrease again, which was caused by various problems, such as an increase in the running cost, decrease in the number of visitors and poor sanitary conditions. A steady rise in the number of wild monkeys also caused an increase in damages to crops and human dwellings. Important recommendations by naturalists, scientists and nature conservationists for improving the situation of the parks in regard to educational, scientific and nature conservation aspects have been ignored by commercial and administrative authorities. Nevertheless, efforts to improve the situation continued because of the overpopulation of park monkeys and the serious damages caused by them. As a possible solution to this problem it was suggested recently to return the animals to their natural habitat by gradually decreasing and then completely stopping their support, slowly integrating them into the ecosystem again, thereby contributing to public education and nature conservation in cooperation with local museums of natural history.

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The effects of the short-tailed shearwater (Puffinus tenuirostris) on the plant communities were studied on Great Dog, Little Dog and Little Green Islands, Tasmania. Most native perennials were dominant only in the sites with few burrows, Poa labillardieri, however, was dominant regardless burrow density. Number of species, diversity index and equitability negatively correlated with burrow density. The decline of species diversity and the disappearance of the native perennials suggested a retrogressive succession caused by birds' activity. Poa labillardieri might exceptionally tolerate the birds' activities by developing a dense root system. On the other hand, native annuals and exotic species, found in the tussock grassland, may establish by seedling on the spotty bare ground formed by the birds' activity. In Tasmania, the short-tailed shearwaters had been harvested for personal consumption and/or commerce. The decline of the birds, caused by the harvest, might contribute to the recovery of the vegetation. The Poa labillardieri tussock grassland is regarded as a historical product which has been formed by an interacting balance among the birds' activity, exploitation of the birds by humans, bushfires, introduction and invasion of plant species from Europe and succession.

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The relationships between waterbird communities and environmental factors were examined in 28 urban lakes, located in Tokyo suburbs, during 1991-92. Twenty factors concerning lake morphology, water quality, isolation from other wetlands, land use of neighboring area, and human disturbance were included in multiple regression analyses. The lake size was a significant positive factor regarding the number of bird species during both the wintering and breeding seasons. Lakes surrounded by an artificial fence or littoral emergent vegetation tended to support more species than open lakes in the wintering season. Furthermore, circularity and shallowness of the lakes were also a significant positive factor regarding the number of bird species in winter. Human disturbance through activities such as fishing and boating was a negative factor regarding winter bird density. During breeding season, the amount of emergent vegetation and the presence of islands in the lakes were positive factors, while the distance to the nearest river was a negative factor in regard to bird density. Dominant bird species were influenced by the amount of emergent vegetation, land use of neighboring areas and human disturbance. An increase of emergent vegetation related to the dominance of the Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus). An increase in neighboring residential area and human recreational activities related to changes in dominant duck species -from ducks which use the lake for resting, to ducks which use the lake for feeding. From this relationship it could be suggested that, in order to improve urban lakes as effective waterbird habitat, lakes should be large, surrounded by a fence or emergent vegetation, contain islands, located close to other wetlands and kept undisturbed from human recreation activities.

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A breeding pair of black woodpeckers (Dryocopos martius), a vulnerable species of Japan, was observed in South Hakkoda, northern Honshu, from 1991 to 1995. The home range of the pair was estimated to be 1, 924 ha, based on the outermost observation points. The range area consisted of artificial coniferous forests (295 ha, 15.4%), mature beech forests (Fagus crenata) (962 ha, 50.0%), broad-leaved deciduous forests without beech trees (545 ha, 28.4%) and open land (122 ha, 6.2%). Most of the observation points were concentrated in the mature beech forest area.

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