Habitat Selection of Invasive Sika Deer Cervus nippon Living in a UK Lowland Heathland-Woodland-Grassland Mosaic: Implications for Habitat Conservation Management

Authors: Diaz, A., Walls, S., Whitmarsh, D., Smith, M. and Green, I.

Journal: Journal of Scientific Research & Reports

Volume: 17

Issue: 3

Pages: 1-15

ISSN: 2320-0227

DOI: 10.9734/JSRR/2017/38579

Abstract:

Understanding the factors determining the choice and use of habitats by invasive species is key to  the  conservation  management  of  habitats  and  may  also  enable  species  to  be  harnessed  as  conservation tools. Here we explore the habitat use of an invasive population of sika deer, Cervus nippon on internationally important heathland in a landscape of heathland, grassland and woodland  in southern UK. We used radio telemetry to test two hypotheses 1) grasses form a major part of the  diet of non-native UK sika deer throughout the year 2) deer select grassland habitats above other  habitats  available.  Results  showed  that  although  grasses  form  a  major  part  of  their  diet,  the  strongest habitat selection was for heathland, the habitat that offered the least nutrient reward but  Original Research Article Diaz et al.; JSRR, 17(3): 1-15, 2017; Article no.JSRR.38579 2 which  offered  a  source  of  roughage  in  the diet  and  some  harbourage  from  human  disturbance.   This  has  implications  for  the  conservation  management  of  heathlands  used  by  sika  deer  as  it  strongly indicates that heathland is a vulnerable habitat due to being favoured by sika deer but that  its  vulnerability  can be  reduced by  coupling  population  control with targeted habitat management  action such as increased disturbance or the removal of harbourage.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/30322/

http://www.journalrepository.org/media/journals/JSRR_22/2018/Jan/Diaz1732017JSRR38579.pdf

Source: Manual

Habitat Selection of Invasive Sika Deer Cervus nippon Living in a UK Lowland Heathland-Woodland-Grassland Mosaic: Implications for Habitat Conservation Management.

Authors: Diaz, A., Walls, S., Whitmarsh, D., Smith, M.J. and Green, I.D.

Journal: Journal of Scientific Research & Reports

Volume: 17

Issue: 3

Pages: 1-15

ISSN: 2320-0227

Abstract:

Understanding the factors determining the choice and use of habitats by invasive species is key to the conservation management of habitats and may also enable species to be harnessed as conservation tools. Here we explore the habitat use of an invasive population of sika deer, Cervus nippon on internationally important heathland in a landscape of heathland, grassland and woodland in southern UK. We used radio telemetry to test two hypotheses 1) grasses form a major part of the diet of non-native UK sika deer throughout the year 2) deer select grassland habitats above other habitats available. Results showed that although grasses form a major part of their diet, the strongest habitat selection was for heathland, the habitat that offered the least nutrient reward but which offered a source of roughage in the diet and some harbourage from human disturbance. This has implications for the conservation management of heathlands used by sika deer as it strongly indicates that heathland is a vulnerable habitat due to being favoured by sika deer but that its vulnerability can be reduced by coupling population control with targeted habitat management action such as increased disturbance or the removal of harbourage.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/30322/

http://www.journalrepository.org/media/journals/JSRR_22/2018/Jan/Diaz1732017JSRR38579.pdf

Source: BURO EPrints