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- Title
Scanning sympatric sika deer and Japanese serows using drones: A methodological trial in Mt. Asama, Central Japan.
- Authors
Ito, Takehiko Y.; Yuko Fukue; Masato Minami
- Abstract
The negative impacts of sika deer (Cervus nippon) on Japanese serows (Capricornis crispus) are a subject of concern in the mountainous regions of Japan. To develop a methodology to collect information with regard to the abundance and habitat selection of sympatric large mammals using drones (unmanned aerial vehicles; UAVs) equipped with thermal infrared and red-green-blue (RGB) sensors, surveys were conducted at night and in the early morning in a high mountainous habitat. Despite the similar size and shape in thermal infrared images for sika deer and Japanese serows, species identification based on body color using RGB images was possible during the period from dawn to early morning. The UAV surveys also revealed the large abundance of deer (>40 deer/km²) and suggested different habitat selection between deer and serows in the alpine grassland. Our results were the first snapshots of sympathetic deer and serow distribution. UAV surveys using both thermal infrared and RGB sensors in early morning could be useful for research and monitoring of large mammals in open areas, such as grasslands, marshlands, high mountains, farmlands and drylands.
- Subjects
JAPAN; SIKA deer; SEROWS; DRONE aircraft; HABITAT selection; DEER; INFRARED imaging; THERMOGRAPHY
- Publication
Grassland Science, 2023, Vol 69, Issue 4, p277
- ISSN
1744-6961
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/grs.12404