Geographical and seasonal variation of plant taxa detected in faces of Cervus nippon yakushimae based on plant DNA analysis in Yakushima Island

Yakushima's Yaku-sika deer (Cervus nippon yakushimae) primarily feed on evergreen tall trees, but their consumption of understory herbaceous plants, including ferns, contributes to the degradation of understory vegetation. Plant DNA analysis of deer feces revealed that managed areas with reduced deer density exhibited higher diversity in food plant species compared to unmanaged areas, suggesting that active management can restore understory plant diversity. The study used next-generation sequencing of chloroplast DNA fragments (rbcL region) from feces collected across five areas and four seasons in 2018, providing insights into the dietary habits and ecological impact of this invasive deer population on Yakushima Island's biodiversity.

Higashi, Y., Hirota, S. K., Suyama, Y., & Yahara, T. (2022). Geographical and seasonal variation of plant taxa detected in faces of Cervus nippon yakushimae based on plant DNA analysis in Yakushima Island. Ecological Research, 37(5), 582–597. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1703.12319