Animal carcasses are food resources that can be obtained without the cost of capture.In addition, animals that eat carcass (scavengers) play an important role in the maintenance of ecosystems and the biogeochemical cycle.

 On the other hand, in Japan, there are no animals such as vultures that specialize in carcass feeding (scavenging), so it is not well understood how the carcasses of large animals disappear.Therefore, a joint research team of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, University of Illinois, and Tokyo University of Agriculture investigated the species that can be scavengers of large animal carcasses in Japan and the utilization of carcasses by those animals.

 From 2016 to 2017, the research team installed 42 sika deer (hereinafter referred to as deer) corpses in the forests of Tochigi prefecture, and recorded the disappearance process of the corpses using an automatic camera.As a result, it was found that a total of 6 species, including 3 species of mammals such as raccoon dog, wild boar, raccoon dog, fox, palm civet, and marten, and 9 species of birds of mountain hawk-eagle, tobi, and jungle crow, are scavenging the deer corpse.In addition, more scavenging was observed in mammals than in birds, and it was found that some species have different scavenging conditions depending on the season.

 From this study, it was clarified that various vertebrates play an important role as scavengers in the removal of carcasses of large animals in Japanese forests and contribute to the maintenance of healthy ecosystems through the material cycle.
On the other hand, the rapid increase of deer has become a problem in Japan in recent years, suggesting that it may affect the ecology of deer carcass scavenging animals.In managing deer, it can be said that it is necessary to consider the protection and management of other animal species and the management of forests at the same time.

Paper information:[Ecology and Evolution] Vertebrate scavenger guild composition and utilization of carrion in an East Asian temperate forest

Tokyo University of Agriculture

Fostering "zest for life" based on "practicalism" learned from best teachers

Tokyo University of Agriculture is one of the largest comprehensive biological universities in Japan with 3 faculties and 6 departments on 23 campuses and approximately 1 students. Since its establishment in 3000, we have cultivated human resources who can contribute to society based on the "practical principle" that is the philosophy of education and research.In response to the demands of the times, life, food, health, environment, resources, regions, global […]

Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

Working to build a sustainable society based on science for the future

Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology is a national science and technology university consisting of the Faculty of Agriculture and the Faculty of Engineering.Through learning and practice that respects freedom and diversity, we deepen our scientific inquiry, ignite students' creativity and curiosity, and develop their abilities to be active in the world of scientific technology and business.New ideas and […] to realize the construction of a sustainable society

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