Data for: Seasonal home range and habitat selection patterns of sika deer Cervus nippon in southern Hokkaido, Japan

In 1980 and 1981, eight and nine individual sika deer Cervus nippon were reintroduced in southern Hokkaido, Japan, respectively, to address population declines in this species during 1900s. As recent population growth has led to human–wildlife conflicts, this study investigated the responses of sika deer to resource availability and geomorphic factors during the summer and winter seasons in southern Hokkaido. Global positioning system-collared data collected from 2016 to 2018 were used to assess the home range patterns and habitat selection of 14 female sika deer located in Mount Esan and Shiriuchi. The core home range size was defined using a 50% kernel density estimation that indicated a larger home range in winter than summer for all deer. Habitat selection was assessed using generalized linear mixed models. The results showed variation in habitat selection between resident deer of Mount Esan and Shiriuchi, as well as migratory deer in Shiriuchi during summer. Resident deer in Mount Esan and Shriuchi preferred areas closer to crops during summer. Interaction effects revealed that migratory deer utilized natural grassland close to forest edge habitat in Shiriuchi. By contrast, resident deer in Shiriuchi selected forest edge habitat and natural grasslands close to crops. In winter, low elevation was the most important habitat factor for all deer across the study area. Thus, sika deer habitat selection depends on resource availability in summer and topographic factors in the winter.

1980年与1981年，日本北海道南部分别被重新引入8只、9只梅花鹿（Cervus nippon），以应对该物种在20世纪的种群衰退。由于近期种群增长引发人兽冲突，本研究针对北海道南部的梅花鹿，探究其在夏、冬两季对资源可获得性及地貌因子的响应。本研究采用2016至2018年收集的全球定位系统项圈（Global Positioning System-collared）数据，对分布于恵山（Mount Esan）与白老（Shiriuchi）的14只雌性梅花鹿的家域模式与栖息地选择进行评估。核心家域范围通过50%核密度估计（kernel density estimation）划定，结果显示所有个体的冬季家域均大于夏季。栖息地选择分析采用广义线性混合模型（generalized linear mixed models）。研究结果表明，恵山与白老的居留型梅花鹿，以及白老的迁徙型梅花鹿，其栖息地选择在夏季存在差异。恵山和白老的居留型个体在夏季偏好临近农作物的区域。交互效应分析显示，白老的迁徙型个体偏好靠近林缘生境的天然草原；与之相对，白老的居留型个体则选择林缘生境以及临近农作物的天然草原。冬季时，低海拔是整个研究区域内所有梅花鹿最重要的栖息地影响因子。综上，梅花鹿的栖息地选择在夏季取决于资源可获得性，冬季则受地形因子调控。