Japanese Serow Research Articles

Ciliate Protozoa from the Rumens of Japanese Serows (Capricornis crispus) Captured in the Northern Part of Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan

Ciliate fauna collected from the rumens of eight wild Japanese serows (Capricornis crispus) captured in the northern part of Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, were compared with the ciliate faunas found in other Japanese wild ruminants. We identified six species belonging to two genera of ciliates (Entodinium nanellum, Ent. minimum, Ent. simplex, Ent. dubardi, Ent. longinucleatum, and Elytroplastron bubali), all of which had been reported in a previous study examining the rumen contents of Japanese serows in Gifu and Miyagi Prefectures. However, four of the previously identified ciliate species (Dasytricha ruminantium, Ent. lobosospinosum, Ent. ekendrae, and Epidinium ecaudatum) were not detected in this study. Ely. bubali was detected frequently, suggesting that this species is characteristic of the rumen of Japanese serows. Furthermore, the six ciliate species in this study were observed in over 70% of the studied serows, suggesting that these ciliate species are widely distributed in the rumens of serows in this study area.

Species, sex, and individual identification of Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) and sika deer (Cervus nippon) in sympatric region based on the fecal DNA samples

We describe non-invasive molecular techniques for species, sex, and individual identification using fecal of the sympatric species, Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) and sika deer (Cervus nippon), in Japan. From screening 19 microsatellites using 52 tissue samples of the two species, we selected 14 and 10 highly polymorphic loci for Japanese serow and sika deer, respectively, of which five loci could be amplified across the species. First, species identification using two cross-species-amplifiable loci and sex identification based on a partial amelogenin gene sequence were conducted on 194 fecal samples from Eastern Shikoku, Japan. PCR amplification of 65 fecal samples for new and relatively new fecal pellets identified 35 Japanese serow and 30 sika deer. In Japanese serow, 14 individuals (7 males and 7 females) were identified using 11 of 14 microsatellites. In sika deer, 19 individuals (11 males and 8 females) were identified using 9 of 10 microsatellites. This non-invasive genetic technique using fecal samples should be useful to study the distribution, gene flow, sex ratio, and population size of sympatric Japanese serow and sika deer.

冬季の下北半島におけるカモシカマダニの人体刺症例

A 57-year old male, who had taken part in a field investigation of Japanese serow, Capricornis crispus, was bitten by a tick in Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori Prefecture, northern Honshu, Japan in late December 2007. The female tick was found attached to his left chest. The author, who also took part in the field investigation, removed the tick with forceps. Examination of the tick revealed that it was Ixodes acutitarsus (Acari: Ixodidae). As the mean temperature on the day that he was bitten was 3.7°C, this suggests that I. acutitarsus is active at around 0°C.

Presence/Absence Point Records of Japanese Serow (Naemorhedus crispus) with Environmental Predictors in the Fuji-Tanzawa Region, Japan

Presence/Absence Point Records of Japanese Serow (Naemorhedus crispus) with Environmental Predictors in the Fuji-Tanzawa Region, Japan

Complete mitochondrial genome of the Himalayan serow (Capricornis thar) and its phylogenetic status within the genus Capricornis

The genus Capricornis (Caprinae, Bovidae) includes six species, i.e., Capriconis sumatraensis, Capricornis swinhoei, Capricornis crispus, Capricornis rubidus, Capricornis milneedwardsii and Capricornis thar. Based on morphological, anatomical and physiological evidence, the Himalayan serow (C. thar), which is distributed in the mountain regions of the Tibetan Plateau and adjacent areas, is generally classified as a species of the genus Capricornis. However, considering the lack of molecular phylogenetic evidence, a heated controversy still exists over the taxonomic position of the Himalayan serow. To determine the phylogenetic status of C. thar, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) of one Himalayan serow using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Then, we constructed a molecular phylogenetic tree of the genus Capricornis and its related species in the Caprinae subfamily based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian interference methods. The results reflect that the structural characteristics, nucleotide content and codon usage bias of the mitochondrial genome of the Himalayan serow were similar to those of other serows. A phylogenetic analysis using two rRNA genes and 12 encoded protein-coding genes indicated that C. thar is clustered within the C. milneedwardsii clade, which is a sister group of C. sumatraensis. The present study provides useful information about the evolution of the Himalayan serow, which will be essential for conservation genetic studies.

Ecological implications of mammal feces buried in snow through dung beetle activities

In early spring, snow-buried mammal feces simultaneously emerge on the ground with the melting of the snow across regions with heavy snowfall. Here, we evaluated the ecological implications of this phenomenon for the cool-temperate forest ecosystem in terms of the resource use of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), which play key roles in secondary seed dispersal and nutrient cycling. During May 2012 and 2013, we conducted cafeteria experiments in heavy snowfall regions with different types of forest cover in northern Japan by using pitfall traps baited with the snow-buried feces of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), Japanese serows (Capricornis crispus), and Japanese hares (Lepus brachyurus angustidens). From the experiments, we identified 12 dung beetle species, indicating that the snow-buried feces could act as a valuable resource for vernal beetles. Most of the beetles had obvious fecal preferences. The snow-buried feces of serows were widely available resources for most vernal species, including dwellers and tunnelers, contributing to the biomass of those species. Although dung beetles using snow-buried feces in young broadleaf forests with rich feces supplies did not always exhibit the highest species richness, tunnelers frequently emerged in those forests, and Phelotrupes preferred macaque feces. This finding could have important implications for plant regeneration, as it relates to time-lagged mammal–beetle interactions. Endozoochorous seeds dispersed by macaques in the autumn have insufficient opportunities for secondary seed dispersal by beetles as the beetles are inactive in autumn, but those seeds are protected against predation by snow during winter and are safely preserved under soil by vernal tunnelers.

Establishment of an on-site diagnostic procedure for detection of orf virus from oral lesions of Japanese serows (Capricornis crispus) by loop-mediated isothermal amplification.

Orf virus infection has been prevalent continuously in the population of wild Japanese serows (Capricornis crispus), goat-like grazing cloven-hoofed mammal species that live mainly in mountainous areas of Japan. Currently, definitive diagnosis of infection requires time-consuming laboratory work. To diagnose rapidly on-site, we developed a field-friendly procedure for the detection of orf virus from oral cavity lesions. DNA was extracted from goat saliva spiked with orf virus as a proxy for Japanese serows by a commercial kit without the use of electricity, and the quality of the extracted DNA was evaluated by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Extracted DNA was amenable to DNA amplification, the same as when extracted in a laboratory. Next, to find optimal conditions for DNA amplification by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), Bst and Csa DNA polymerases and 3 colorimetric indicators for visual diagnosis, hydroxy naphthol blue (HNB), malachite green and D-QUICK, were compared using a portable cordless incubator. The combination of Bst or Csa DNA polymerase with HNB was found to be easiest for visual diagnosis by the naked eye, and viral DNA was successfully amplified from all orf virus strains used. These results suggest that the procedure established here can work completely on-site and can be useful for definitive diagnosis and differentiation of orf virus infection in Japanese serows in remote mountainous areas.

A novel and rapid diagnostic method for discriminating between feces of sika deer and Japanese serow by loop-mediated isothermal amplification.

Severe damages to natural vegetation, agriculture, and forestry caused by overpopulation of sika deer (Cervus nippon) have markedly increased in Japan in recent years. To devise a population management plan of sika deer, information on the distribution and population size of the animal in each region is indispensable. An easy and effective method to obtain this information is to count the fecal pellets in the field. However, the habitat of sika deer in Japan overlaps that of Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus). Additionally, it is difficult to discriminate between the feces of both animals. Here, we present a rapid and precise diagnostic method for discriminating between the feces of sika deer and Japanese serow using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) targeting cytochrome b gene in the mitochondrial DNA. Our results showed that the LAMP can discriminate between the feces of sika deer and Japanese serow, and the method is simpler and more sensitive than the conventional molecular diagnostic method. Since LAMP method does not require special skills for molecular biology techniques, even the field researchers who have never done a molecular experiment can easily carry out the protocol. In addition, the entire protocol, from DNA extraction from fecal pellet to identification of species, takes only about 75min and does not require expensive equipment. Hence, this diagnostic method is simple, fast, and accessible to anyone. As such, the method can be a useful tool to estimate distribution and population size of sika deer.

Involvement of two genetic lineages of Sarcoptes scabiei mites in a local mange epizootic of wild mammals in Japan.

Similar to wild mammals on the continents, mange caused by the mange mite, Sarcoptes scabiei (Acari: Sarcoptidae) is spreading in wild mammals in most of Japan. We collected crusted or alopetic skin from 120 raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus), three raccoons (Procyon lotor), six Japanese badgers (Meles anakuma), one Japanese marten (Martes melampus), one stray dog (Canis lupus familiaris), four wild boars (Sus scrofa leucomystax), and one Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus), mainly in an area where mangy wild animals have been increasingly noted in the past 4 yr. The second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) region of the ribosomal RNA gene and the partial 16S and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox-1) genes of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were characterized in these skin samples. The ITS2 sequencing (404 base pairs [bp]) identified the causative mite for mangy skin lesions of 128 animals as S. scabiei, regardless of host origin. The cat mite (Notoedres cati) was the cause in one raccoon dog and one raccoon. Most mites had almost identical ITS2 nucleotide sequences to those recorded in a variety of mammals worldwide. Partial 16S and cox-1 fragments of mtDNA amplified and sequenced successfully (331 bp and 410 bp, respectively) showed an identical nucleotide sequence except for one site (C vs. T) for the former and four sites (G, C, C, C vs. A, T, T, T, respectively) for the latter fragment. These substitutions were always synchronized, with the two mitochondrial DNA haplotypes (i.e., C/GCCC and T/ATTT) appearing to separately colonize in geographic units. The T/ATTT haplotype fell into a clade where animal-derived mites worldwide dominated, whereas the C/GCCC haplotype formed a geographic branch unique to Japanese isolates. These results suggest that heterologous populations of monospecific S. scabiei are expanding their populations and distributions regardless of host species in an apparently local mange epizootic of wild mammals in Japan.

Range-expanding wildlife: modelling the distribution of large mammals in Japan, with management implications

The spatial distribution of large mammals has been increasing in industrial nations, often leading to conflicts with humans and significant alteration of natural ecosystems. Species distribution models (SDMs) of the sika deer, Japanese serow, wild boar, Japanese macaque and Asiatic black bear in Japan were constructed to identify the important factors for habitat management. We also projected two scenarios of their future range expansions under a scenario of no change in the variables, and one where the variables change according to a time series. Modelling showed that all species preferred forest and forest/agricultural ecotones. In the best models of the sika deer and wild boar, grasslands (GRASSs) were an important positive factor, while human population density and hunting pressures were negative factors. High human population density was also a negative factor with the Japanese serow and Asiatic black bear. Key environments for the distribution and expansion of large mammals were agricultural areas near forest and GRASSs. Therefore, limiting the access of large mammals to such habitats may contribute to wildlife management. In both scenarios, our projections suggest that the distributions of all species could expand by 2028, resulting in more conflict with humans and significant alterations to natural ecosystems in the future. In order to stop this damaging expansion, habitat management and landscape redesign are important. However, a SDM and future projection include uncertainty. It is necessary to validate the estimates and projections by monitoring the future changes in distribution.

A Comparison of the Fecal Compositions of Sympatric Populations of Sika Deer and Japanese Serows on Mt. Sanrei in Shikoku, Southwestern Japan

Two ruminants, sika deer (Cervus nippon) and Japanese serows (Capricornis crispus), inhabit the Japanese archipelago. The range of sika deer includes nearly the entire archipelago from Hokkaido to Kyushu, including habitats from the coastal zone to the montane zone. In contrast, the distribution and the habitat of Japanese serows are limited: they inhabit deciduous broad-leaved forests from Honshu to Kyushu (Ohdachi et al. 2009). These two ruminants occur in sympatry in some localities. Information on such cases would help to document how two animal species within the same guild can share a common food supply. However, only one study at Mt. Yatsugatake, central Japan, has compared the diets of sika deer and serows (Kobayashi and Takatsuki 2012). Their study demonstrated that sika deer subsisted on dwarf bamboo, whereas serows mainly fed on forbs and browses (Kobayashi and Takatsuki 2012). The diet compositions of the two species were more similar in winter, likely because food was limited and both ungulates were forced to feed on similar food plants (Kobayashi and Takatsuki 2012). Although it is known that there are many more sympatric populations of these two ruminants, no other studies have been done. Further, quantitative food analyses of Japanese serows are limited, and no study has been done for southern serow populations. The present study, therefore, compares the diets of sympatric populations of these two ruminant species in the eastern part of Shikoku, an island in western Japan, representing

Habitat preferences of medium/large mammals in human disturbed forests in Central Japan

AbstractIt is a great concern whether human disturbed forest, i.e., secondary forest or monoculture forest, can be a habitat for the wildlife. We examined habitat preference of medium/large terrestrial mammal species in a human‐disturbed mountainous settlement area of Akiyama Region, Central Japan, by using camera‐traps, which were placed at conifer plantation forest, high/low‐disturbed deciduous broad‐leaved forest, and broad‐leaved/conifer mixed forest in 2008 and 2009. Camera‐traps were operational for 4568.6 trap‐nights producing 740 photo‐captures of 13 medium/large terrestrial mammal species. Japanese serow and Japanese hare dominated 54 % of all photo‐captures. Low‐disturbed deciduous broad‐leaved forest showed the richest mammal fauna (12 spp.). We suggested that fruit trees and understory vegetation provided suitable habitat for frugivorous as well as herbivorous mammals. The mixed forest showed the lowest mammal fauna (6 spp.), which located higher elevation. High‐disturbed deciduous broad‐leaved forest (9 spp.) was also supposed to be a better habitat for some frugivorous mammals and herbivorous mammals, but tended to be avoided by Japanese marten and Japanese macaque. Conifer plantation forest (7 spp.) with understory vegetation was supposed to be a better habitat for Japanese serow and Japanese hare, but not for the other species. Without fruit trees, conifer plantation forest was supposed to be non‐attractive habitat for frugivorous mammals. We demonstrated that, if a forest had been disturbed by human, the forest can be a habitat for terrestrial herbivores, but this was not always true for frugivores.

Lights and shadows in the evolutionary patterns of insular bovids

Endemic bovids are intriguing elements of insular faunas. The living species include the Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) and the Formosan serow (C. swinhoei), the tamaraw from Mindoro, Philippines, (Bubalus mindorensis) and the anoas (B. depressicornis and B. quarlesi), 2 species of dwarf buffalos endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia. Fossil endemic bovids are only recorded in some Asian, North American and Western Mediterranean islands. Here we present a comprehensive overview of the changes in body size and evolutionary patterns exhibited by both extant and extinct insular bovids. Our appraisal indicates that each insular representative of Bovidae shows its own peculiar evolutionary model, albeit some parallel trends exist (e.g. reduction in body size, allometric changes in limb bones, alteration of the life history traits). Some changes in morphology (e.g. the simplification of horn cores, the increase in hypsodonty, the acquisition of a 'low-gear' locomotion), for instance, appear as common, albeit not general, patterns triggered by a combination of selective forces. Body size patterns support the 'generality of the island rule' and suggest that biotic interaction had/have a major role in influencing body size evolution in these species, although in different ways on different islands. All things considered, available evidence suggest that a major role in the evolution of insular bovids is played by the structure of the insular community, the nature of available niches and by the dynamics of ecological interactions.

Distinct distribution of Dicrocoelium dendriticum and D. chinensis in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, and a new final host record for D. chinensis.

ABSTRACTThis study dealt with the morphological and molecular identification of Dicrocoelium flukes obtained from Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) and sika deer (Cervus nippon centralis) in the twelve districts of Iwate Prefecture, Japan. Dicrocoelium dendriticum and D. chinensis were exclusively detected in the western, and coastal and eastern areas of Iwate Prefecture, respectively. This geographically distinct occurrence of the two Dicrocoelium species would be associated with the distribution of the final hosts, sika deer for D. chinensis and Japanese serow for D. dendriticum. This study also reports that Capricornis crispus is a new final host of D. chinensis.

On-site visual diagnosis of parapoxvirus infection using a portable cordless incubator.

A portable cordless incubator was developed for on-site visual diagnosis of parapoxvirus infection on farms and in areas with no electricity or laboratory equipment. The battery-powered thermoregulator can maintain a stable temperature for more than 1 h. The incubator successfully amplified parapoxvirus DNA isolated from sheep and wild Japanese serows (Capricornis crispus) by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). Although different absorbance values were obtained for the LAMP reactions performed using the same sample on the incubator and the turbidimeter, visual assessments of whether the results were positive or negative were the same irrespective of the platform used to perform the LAMP reaction. Consequently, using the portable cordless incubator in conjunction with the LAMP assay is considered to be a powerful tool for on-site visual diagnosis of parapoxvirus infection on farms with no electricity.

Distribution and abundance of Japanese serow in Tokaichiba region and Mt.Ozaki, Tsuru, Yamanashi Prefecture.

Distribution and abundance of Japanese serow in Tokaichiba region and Mt.Ozaki, Tsuru, Yamanashi Prefecture.

Genetic variation and phylogenetic relationship between three serow species of the genus Capricornis based on the complete mitochondrial DNA control region sequences

The molecular evidence of phylogenetic status regarding the Formosan serow (Capricornis swinhoei) is not robust and little is known about the genetic diversity of the Sumatran serow (Capricornis sumatraensis), which partly is due to the hardness in sample collection. Here we determined the sequences of the complete mitochondrial DNA control region (1,014bp) of 19 Sumatran-serow individuals. Nine new haplotypes were defined based on 78 variable sites. Combined analysis with other 32 haplotypes downloaded from the public database, including 1 Sumatran-serow, 11 Formosan-serow and 20 Japanese-serow (Capricornis crispus) haplotypes, a relatively high level of nucleotide diversity was first observed in Sumatran serow (π=0.0249). By comparative analysis with structural consensus sequences from other mammals, we have identified central, left and right domains and depicted the putative functional structure, including extend termination associated sequences and conserve sequence blocks, in mtDNA control region. The alignment of mtDNA control region revealed that both Sumatran and Japanese serow have two tandem repeats (TRs), but three TRs in Formosan serow. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the Formosan serow is distinct species with the Japanese serow, but a sister group with the Sumatran serow. The divergence time estimated among three serow species revealed that Pleistocene climate changes and the uplift of Qinghai-Tibetan plateau might play an important role in the genetic differentiation of the serows. These results mainly provide the convinced evidence on the genetic relationship between three serow species.

本州におけるニホンカモシカ（Capricornis crispus）の頭蓋形態とサイズの地理的変異

本州におけるニホンカモシカ（Capricornis crispus）の頭蓋形態とサイズの地理的変異

Effects of Dietary Differences between Sympatric Japanese Serow and Sika Deer on Environmental Reconstruction by Means of Mesowear Analysis

Diet reconstruction using mesowear analysis has mainly been applied to extinct species and their paleoenvironments. Little is known regarding the effects of dietary differences on sympatric environments using this analysis and the limited existing knowledge from extant species may introduce errors when applied to fossil assemblages. I aimed to determine the sensitivity of mesowear analysis using extant ungulates with known diets. An interspecific comparison was conducted using wild populations of Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus, n = 37) and sika deer (Cervus nippon, n = 55) living in deciduous broad-leaved forest of the Nikko National Park, central Japan. One of the mesowear variables differed significantly between the two species (Fisher's exact test: p < 0.05). According to hierarchical cluster and principal component analyses, Japanese serow were classified as browsers, while sika deer as mixed feeders. Previous studies support these results; therefore, mesowear analysis can be used to detect dietary differences in sympatric species.

Characterization ofDicrocoelium dendriticumisolates from small ruminants in Shaanxi Province, north-western China, using internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA

The genetic variations in internal transcribed spacers (ITS) spanning ITS-1, 5.8S and ITS-2 rDNA of Dicrocoelium dendriticum, isolated from sheep and goats in four geographical regions in Shaanxi province, were examined. The lengths of ITS-1, 5.8S and ITS-2 rDNA sequences for D. dendriticum were 749bp, 161bp and 234bp, respectively. Intra-specific sequence variations of D. dendriticum were 0-0.5% for ITS-1 and 0-1.3% for ITS-2 rDNA, while the inter-specific variations among species in genus Dicrocoelium in ITS-2 rDNA were 3.4-12.3%. Phylogenetic analysis based on sequences of ITS-2 rDNA showed that all D. dendriticum isolates in the present study were grouped with reference D. dendriticum isolates from sheep and goats, and D. dendriticum isolates from cattle and Japanese serow were clustered in a sister clade. However, the phylogenetic tree could not reveal geographically genetic relationships of D. dendriticum isolates in different origins and hosts. These findings provided basic information for further study of molecular epidemiology and control of D. dendriticum infection in Shaanxi province as well as in the world.