Distribution of Wild Mammal Assemblages along an Urban–Rural–Forest Landscape Gradient in Warm-Temperate East Asia
Open Access
- 31 May 2013
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Public Library of Science (PLoS) in PLOS ONE
- Vol. 8 (5), e65464
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0065464
Abstract
Urbanization may alter mammal assemblages via habitat loss, food subsidies, and other factors related to human activities. The general distribution patterns of wild mammal assemblages along urban–rural–forest landscape gradients have not been studied, although many studies have focused on a single species or taxon, such as rodents. We quantitatively evaluated the effects of the urban–rural–forest gradient and spatial scale on the distributions of large and mid-sized mammals in the world's largest metropolitan area in warm-temperate Asia using nonspecific camera-trapping along two linear transects spanning from the urban zone in the Tokyo metropolitan area to surrounding rural and forest landscapes. Many large and mid-sized species generally decreased from forest landscapes to urban cores, although some species preferred anthropogenic landscapes. Sika deer (Cervus nippon), Reeves' muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi), Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata), Japanese squirrel (Sciurus lis), Japanese marten (Martes melampus), Japanese badger (Meles anakuma), and wild boar (Sus scrofa) generally dominated the mammal assemblage of the forest landscape. Raccoon (Procyon lotor), raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), and Japanese hare (Lepus brachyurus) dominated the mammal assemblage in the intermediate zone (i.e., rural and suburban landscape). Cats (feral and free-roaming housecats; Felis catus) were common in the urban assemblage. The key spatial scales for forest species were more than 4000-m radius, indicating that conservation and management plans for these mammal assemblages should be considered on large spatial scales. However, small green spaces will also be important for mammal conservation in the urban landscape, because an indigenous omnivore (raccoon dog) had a smaller key spatial scale (500-m radius) than those of forest mammals. Urbanization was generally the most important factor in the distributions of mammals, and it is necessary to consider the spatial scale of management according to the degree of urbanization.Keywords
This publication has 75 references indexed in Scilit:
- Do species life history traits explain population responses to roads? A meta-analysisBiological Conservation, 2012
- Using multi-scale modelling to predict habitat suitability for species of conservation concern: The grey long-eared bat as a case studyBiological Conservation, 2011
- Multiscale Analyses of Mammal Species Composition – Environment Relationship in the Contiguous USAPLOS ONE, 2011
- Both environmental factors and countermeasures affect wild boar damage to rice paddies in Boso Peninsula, JapanCrop Protection, 2011
- Environmental Factors Affecting the Distribution of the Wild Boar, Sika Deer, Asiatic Black Bear and Japanese Macaque in Central Japan, with Implications for Human-Wildlife ConflictMammal Study, 2009
- Landscape Effects on Ecosystems: Birds as Active Vectors of Nutrient Transport to Fragmented Urban Forests Versus Forest-Dominated LandscapesEcosystems, 2009
- Urban mammals: what does the future hold? An analysis of the factors affecting patterns of use of residential gardens in Great BritainMammal Review, 2007
- Leptospirosis in Urban Wild Boars, Berlin, GermanyEmerging Infectious Diseases, 2007
- Population densities and habitat associations of introduced muntjac Muntiacus reevesi and native roe deer Capreolus capreolus in a lowland pine forestForest Ecology and Management, 2005
- Monitoring diversity and abundance of mammals with camera traps: a case study on Mount Tsukuba, central JapanMammal Study, 2004