A theoretical approach for zone‐based management of the deer population on Yakushima Island

A theoretical approach suggests that prioritizing the central zone of Yakushima Island for deer population management could effectively reduce sika deer numbers and protect threatened plant species, even without increased culling efforts. The study predicts that current management practices would only temporarily decrease deer populations before they rebound. By focusing on zones based on deer density and threatened plant occurrences, there's an 85% probability of achieving the 2022 population target, assuming no inter-zone dispersal. This strategy could help restore the island's biological balance without requiring a threefold increase in control efforts.

Fujimaki, A., Shioya, K., Tagawa, S., & Matsuda, H. (2016). A theoretical approach for zone‐based management of the deer population on Yakushima Island. Population Ecology, 58(2), 315–327. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10144-016-0541-6