Search Results (36)

Identifying suitable habitats and quantifying the spatial overlap among sympatrically distributed ungulates is essential for safeguarding their long-term survival. We deployed infrared cameras to capture the distribution sites of sika deer (Cervus nippon), Reeve’s muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi), and wild boar (Sus scrofa) in the Taohongling Sika Deer National Nature Reserve (TNNR) and measured nine environmental factors. Based on this, we applied MaxEnt modeling to assess the species’ habitat suitability and applied the Pianka index to evaluate niche overlap. The results showed that the sika deer occupied the smallest area of high-suitability habitat (53.85 km², 11.13% of the study area), primarily concentrated in the core zone of the TNNR. Specifically, 37.86% of the sika deer’s high-suitability habitat overlapped with wild boar and 29.06% overlapped with Reeve’s muntjac. Pianka index analysis revealed substantial spatial niche overlap between sika deer and Reeve’s muntjac (0.487) but limited overlap between sika deer and wild boar (0.160). Our findings indicate substantial overlap between sika deer and sympatric species. To effectively protect the sika deer in the TNNR, we recommend increasing the number of monitoring sites, implementing habitat improvement measures (e.g., vegetation restoration and water supplementation stations), and establishing isolation corridors to enhance habitat connectivity. Full article

The breeding of large animals in the family Cervidae in China contributes to achieving two tasks: restoring the provenance of wild populations and providing raw materials for traditional Chinese medicine. Currently, red deer (Cervus elaphus), sika deer (C. nippon), and white-lipped deer (C. albirostris) maintain a large number of breeding populations. Some studies on the relationship between the intestinal microbiota and the feed of these deer have been conducted; however, owing to differences in feeding conditions between studies, it has been impossible to compare the intestinal microecology and related adaptability between species. Therefore, the present study is aiming to investigate whether the differences in intestinal microbiota of the three deer species are related to the distance of phylogenetic relationships under the same feeding environment. On this basis, we discuss whether there are differences in the adaptability of the intestinal microbiota of the three deer species to feed nutrients, deepen the understanding of the relationship between the three deer intestinal microbiota and feed nutrition, and provide basic data for improving the scientific feeding of the three deer species. In this study, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology was utilized to analyze the intestinal microbiota in feces of the abovementioned healthy deer species. The results of this study indicated that the intestinal microbiota diversity and relative abundance in female white-lipped deer (FWLD) were significantly lower than those in female sika deer (FSD) and female red deer (FRD; p < 0.05); however, there was no significant difference between the latter two groups (p > 0.05). The community compositions of the intestinal microbiota in FSD and FRD were more similar, whereas that of FWLD was significantly different from those of the first two groups. Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the most abundant phyla in the intestinal microbiota of all three deer species, and Ruminococcceae_UCG-005 was the most abundant genus. No known obligatory pathogenic bacteria were observed in any sample. The relative abundance of the operational taxonomic units Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, Treponema_2, and Akkermansia exhibited significant differences among FSD, FRD, and FWLD, respectively. Therefore, the phylogenetic relatedness of the three deer species appears to play a major role in their intestinal microecology under the same feeding conditions—the greater the phylogenetic relatedness between hosts, the more similar is their intestinal microbiota. In addition, the PICRUSt (Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States) function prediction results indicated that FSD were less capable than FRD and FWLD in the functional category of nutrient metabolism, and FWLD were less capable than FSD and FRD in the functional category of intestinal absorption. These results indicated that there may be differences in the nutritional adaptation abilities of the three deer species under different feeding conditions. In summary, these results revealed the differences in intestinal microbiota among the three deer species under the same food conditions, indicating that the intestinal microbiota of the three deer species had significant differences in food adaptation. Based on this, the nutritional supply of feed for the three deer should consider the species differences. Full article

Gelatin from deer has garnered attention as a high-value health-promoting resource given its history of usage as a traditional Chinese medicine and recent studies demonstrating its biological activities. Mass spectrometry-based methods have increasingly been employed for species identification in collagen-based materials, effectively addressing challenges in quality control and authenticity verification. This study aims to identify characteristic marker peptides in gelatins from sika deer (Cervus nippon) to support their effective use as a health-promoting resource. Gelatin samples were enzymatically digested, and the resulting peptide mixtures were analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole Q-Exactive-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap MS). Marker peptide candidates were selected based on their high detection intensity and a literature review. Among the 28 selected marker peptide candidates, four peptides (P11, R2, R3, and R4) were defined as characteristic of sika deer gelatin. Comparative analyses with gelatins derived from donkey hide, bovine, porcine, and fish samples further confirmed the specificity of these peptides. These findings establish a robust analytical method for verifying the authenticity of sika deer gelatin, contributing to its safe and effective use as a health-promoting resource. Full article

Food resources are the fundamental basis for the survival and reproduction of animals. Diet research is the foundation for understanding their ecological habits and is of great significance for evaluating their survival status and carrying out effective protection and management. South China sika deer (Cervus nippon kopschi) is the most endangered subspecies of wild sika deer in China, with a small population and a shrinking distribution area. Here, we used DNA metabarcoding technology to study the diet composition of C. n. kopschi in Taohongling Sika Deer National Nature Reserve in Jiangxi, China. Comparative analysis of diet composition among different areas (A–E) of C. n. kopschi was conducted, as well as C. n. hortulorum raised in the same areas. We found that the dominant families in the diet composition of C. n. kopschi were Rosaceae (46.73% of relative abundance), Anacardiaceae (6.02%), Poaceae (5.54%), and Fabaceae (3.92%), with Rubus (45.43%) being the absolute dominant genus. Thirty-two preferred plant species were identified in the diet of C. n. kopschi. The highest relative abundance (45%) was Rubus reflexus. The dominant family and genus in the diet composition of C. n. hortulorum were Fabaceae (33.89%) and Pueraria (32.87%), respectively. Of the 15 preferred plant species, the highest relative abundance was Pueraria montana (33%). The richness, diversity, and evenness of diet composition in Area B of C. n. kopschi were the highest among all areas, with significant differences compared to Areas C, D, and E. Diet composition of deer in Area A did not differ significantly from those in other areas. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) both indicated a significant separation in the diet composition of C. n. kopschi and C. n. hortulorum, while Area B showed significant separation from the other areas. This study elaborates on the diet composition information of C. n. kopschi and can provide a reference for the protection and improvement of the habitat of sika deer. Full article

This study examined the effects of dietary crude protein (CP: 18%, 15%) and crude fat (EE: 8%, 4%) levels, and their interactions, on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum indices, and rectal fecal microbiota in sika deer fawns during early wintering. A two-month 2 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted using 32 healthy five-month-old male fawns randomly assigned to four groups: P18E8 (18% CP, 8% EE), P18E4 (18% CP, 4% EE), P15E8 (15% CP, 8% EE), and P15E4 (15% CP, 4% EE). The P18E4 group showed the highest total weight gain and average daily gain (p < 0.05), along with greater apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, calcium, and fiber fractions (p < 0.05). Serum urea content was significantly lower in this group, indicating improved nitrogen utilization (p < 0.05). Dominant fecal microbiota at the phylum level across all groups included Firmicutes_A and Bacteroidota, with the P18E4 group showing a unique genus composition within Bacteroidota, known for enhancing fiber digestion. In summary, a diet with 18% CP and 4% EE optimized growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut microbiota composition, providing a strategy for improving the health and productivity of sika deer fawns during overwintering. Full article

Thermal imaging drones have transformed wildlife monitoring by facilitating the efficient and noninvasive monitoring of animal populations across large areas. In this study, an optimized flight path design was developed for monitoring wildlife on Guleopdo Island, South Korea using the DJI Mavic 3T drone equipped with a thermal camera. We employed a strata-based sampling technique to reclassify topographical and land cover information, creating an optimal survey plan. Using sampling strata, key waypoints were derived, on the basis of which nine flight paths were designed to cover ~50% of the study area. The results demonstrated that an optimized flight path improved the accuracy of detecting Formosan sika deer (Cervus nippon taiouanus). Population estimates indicated at least 128 Formosan sika deer, with higher detection efficiency observed during cloudy weather. Customizing flight paths based on the habitat characteristics proved crucial for efficient monitoring. This study highlights the potential of thermal imaging drones for accurately estimating wildlife populations and supporting conservation efforts. Full article

This study assessed the meat quality of Sika deer (Cervus nippon) from various age and sex groups using the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle. Samples from different age groups (2, 3, and 4 years old) were analyzed for various parameters. The results show that, with increasing age, there is a decrease in moisture and drip loss (p < 0.05), alongside increases in ash, protein, fat, and cooking loss (p < 0.05). Female deer showed an increase in tenderness (p < 0.05), whereas males generally had a higher amino acid content (p < 0.05). Interestingly, 2-year-old female Sika deer had more saturated fatty acids (p < 0.05), while 3- and 4-year-old females had more unsaturated fatty acids compared to age-matched males (p < 0.05). Notably, 3-year-olds had higher levels of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in both the male and female groups (p < 0.05). Overall, this study provides the first comprehensive evidence that Sika deer meat is a nutritious source of lean protein. Notably, meat from 3-year-old Sika deer, regardless of sex, contains higher nutrient levels and is more tender compared to meat from deer of other ages. Additionally, meat from females tends to be more tender than that from males. Full article

Gravity may exert species-specific effects on quadrupedal vasoreactivity, reflecting variations in the vertical displacement of the cardiocranial axis from the dorsal plane. Deer show markedly displaced cardiocranial axes compared to their closest phylogenetic relatives, but their relative cerebrovascular responses remain unelucidated. Accordingly, we investigated the responses to noradrenaline (NA), acetylcholine (ACh), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), histamine, angiotensin (Ang) II, and bradykinin (BK) in cervine basilar arterial rings. NA and 5-HT induced slight contraction, and ACh induced relaxation, which contrasts with the findings reported in pigs and cattle. The cumulative response to ACh was abolished by endothelial denudation and inhibited by N^ω-nitro-L-arginine (a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), atropine (a nonselective muscarinic antagonist), and p-fluoro-hexahydro-sila-difenidol (an M₃ antagonist). Pirenzepine (an M₁ antagonist) and methoctramine (an M₂ antagonist) showed no significant effects. Histamine induced contractions, with its concentration–response curve shifted to the right in parallel by diphenhydramine (an H₁ antagonist). However, cimetidine (an H₂ antagonist) showed no significant effects. Ang II and BK had no vasomotive effects. NA and ACh induced different cerebrovascular responses in sika deer versus cattle, but histamine and BK did not. Our findings suggest that cerebrovascular responses are influenced by the similarity of animal species and the head and heart positions relative to gravity. Full article

In order to investigate the nutritional processing quality of sika deer (Cervus nippon) venison at different sites, the pH_{24 h}, tenderness, pressurized water loss rate, meat color, intramuscular fat, moisture, protein, amino acid, fatty acid and squalene contents of sika deer venison were determined in twelve sites: foreleg, hind leg, outer tenderloin, rump, neck meat, chest meat, deer flank, abdominal rib, high rib, tenderloin, anterior tendon and posterior tendon. The results showed that the pH_{24 h} of sika deer venison at different sites was 5.49~5.78; the tenderness of outer tenderloin (31.71 N) was the lowest, and the neck meat (68.53 N) was the highest; the squeezing moisture of tenderloin (28.12%) was the largest, and the foreleg (12.34%) was the smallest; the brightness of outer tenderloin L* (29.68) was the lowest, and the redness a* and yellowness b* of deer flank were the highest; the intramuscular fat and moisture were 0.66~4.97% and 71.00~73.78%, respectively; and the protein content of outer tenderloin (23.44%) and rump (24.02%) was high. The venison meat contained 17 kinds of amino acids, and the total amount was 63.87~79.33 g/100 g. It was rich in essential amino acids, mainly lysine and leucine, accounting for 64.29~65.39% of non-essential amino acids, which was close to the ideal protein composition. Palmitoleic acid and oleic acid were the main monounsaturated fatty acids in venison, and the contents of abdominal ribs were the highest, 16,875.33 mg/kg and 31,772.73 mg/kg, respectively. The contents of essential fatty acids were also the highest in abdominal ribs (11,225.37 mg/kg); forelegs, hind legs, outer tenderloins, rumps, neck meat, chest meat, high rib, tenderloins, anterior tendons and posterior tendons were all good sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Squalene content was highest in the abdominal rib (100.85 mg/kg). The nutritional processing quality of sika deer venison in different muscles is significantly different, and this study can provide a data basis for the evaluation and processing of sika deer venison quality. Full article

It has been known that harvesting by humans strongly influences individual within-home range habitat selection of many deer species; however, little is known about the effect of harvesting on coarse-scale habitat selection (i.e., spatial distribution). We examined the summer spatial distribution of sika deer Cervus nippon in relation to human harvesting and other factors, such as human residences, forage abundance, and cover, using pellet group counts at Mount Fuji, central Japan, in 2018. In the study area, harvesting is conducted at medium elevation areas throughout the year, but not at high or low elevation areas where access is difficult or harvesting is prohibited. Spatial distribution of deer was significantly biased to non-harvesting areas and far from residential areas, suggesting that they avoid riskier spaces by establishing a landscape of fear. High-quality food resources (deciduous broad-leaved trees and forbs) were more abundant in harvesting areas than in non-harvesting areas, suggesting that foraging pressure by deer reduce them. However, there were no differences in abundances of more fibrous dwarf bamboo between harvesting and non-harvesting areas, and spatial distribution of deer was significantly biased to higher dwarf bamboo abundance areas, suggesting that the dwarf bamboo is an alternative food resource in non-harvesting areas where supplies of high-quality food were limited. Our results suggest that human harvesting pressure and residences shifted the spatial distribution of deer from the montane forests to subalpine/alpine zones, which may increase damage to vulnerable ecosystems due to severe foraging pressure. Full article

Deer are susceptible to infection with parasitic helminths, including species which are of increasing economic concern to the livestock industry due to anthelmintic drug resistance. This paper systematically collates helminth prevalence data from deer across Europe and explores patterns in relation to host and parasite species, as well as landscape factors. A livestock pasture contact index (LPCI) is developed to predict epidemiological overlap between deer and livestock, and hence to examine deer helminth fauna in the context of their surrounding environment. Fifty-eight studies comprising fallow (Dama dama), red (Cervus elaphus), roe (Capreolus capreolus) and sika (Cervus nippon) deer were identified. Deer populations in “likely” contact with livestock pasture had a higher mean prevalence of the abomasal nematodes Haemonchus contortus, Ostertagia ostertagi, Teladorsagia circumcincta and Trichostrongylus axei (p = 0.01), which are common in livestock and not primarily associated with deer. Roe deer populations had a higher prevalence of T. circumcincta (p = 0.02) and T. axei (p = 0.01) than fallow deer and a higher prevalence of H. contortus than both red (p = 0.01) and fallow deer (p = 0.02). Liver fluke and lungworm species were present sporadically at low prevalence, while the abomasal nematode Ashworthius sidemi occurred locally at high prevalence. Insights from this research suggest that deer helminth fauna is reflective of their surrounding environment, including the livestock species which inhabit areas of shared grazing. This is explored from an epidemiological perspective, and the prospect of helminth transmission between wild and domestic hosts is discussed, including drug-resistant strains, alongside the role of helminths as indicators relevant to the transmission of other pathogens at the wildlife–livestock interface. Full article

Wildlife damage to agriculture is serious in Japan; therefore, it is important to understand changes in wildlife population sizes. Although several studies have been conducted to detect wildlife from drone images, behavioral changes (such as wildlife escaping when a drone approaches) have been confirmed. To date, the use of visible and near-infrared images has been limited to the daytime because many large mammals, such as sika deer (Cervus nippon), are crepuscular. However, it is difficult to detect wildlife in the thermal images of urban areas that are not open and contain various heat spots. To address this issue, a method was developed in a previous study to detect moving wildlife using pairs of time-difference thermal images. However, the user’s accuracy was low. In the current study, two methods are proposed for extracting moving wildlife using pairs of airborne thermal images and deep learning models. The first method was to judge grid areas with wildlife using a deep learning classification model. The second method detected each wildlife species using a deep learning object detection model. The proposed methods were then applied to pairs of airborne thermal images. The classification test accuracies of “with deer” and “without deer” were >85% and >95%, respectively. The average precision of detection, precision, and recall were >85%. This indicates that the proposed methods are practically accurate for monitoring changes in wildlife populations and can reduce the person-hours required to monitor a large number of thermal remote-sensing images. Therefore, efforts should be made to put these materials to practical use. Full article

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of dragon fruit peel polyphenolic extract (DFPE) on gas production, rumen fermentation, and bacterial communities in sika deer using an in vitro technique. Three treatments with different DFPE levels (DFPE0, base diet; DFPE5, base diet + 5 mg/g DFPE; DFPE10, base diet + 10 mg/g DFPE, respectively; n = 6) were implemented. The phenolic composition of DFPE, gas production (GP), ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N), volatile fatty acid (VFA), and bacteria communities was evaluated after 24 h of incubation. The results showed that GP and NH₃-N were reduced by DFPE supplementation. Total VFA, isovaleric acid, and valeric acid were increased (p < 0.05) by the addition of DFPE. No changes (p > 0.05) were observed in pH, acetic acid, propionic acid, isobutyric acid, butyric acid, and the ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid. Additionally, the alpha indexes, including Sobs, Shannon, and Ace, were increased by DFPE supplementation. Moreover, at the phylum level, DFPE supplementation increased (p = 0.01) Bacteroidota but reduced (p < 0.01) Firmicutes. At the genus level, compared to DFPE0, the DFPE10 had increased relative abundances of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group (p < 0.01), norank_f_Muribaculaceae (p = 0.01), Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group (p < 0.01), Christensenellaceae_R-7_group (p < 0.01), and NK4A214_group (p < 0.01), decreased relative abundances of Streptococcus (p < 0.01), Oribacterium (p = 0.01), and Enterococcus (p < 0.01). Compared to DFPE0, DFPE5 had no change (p > 0.05) in all bacteria at the genus level except for decreased relative abundance of Enterococcus (p < 0.01). These results indicated that DFPE may be able to be used as a feed additive to enhance fermentation parameters and improve ruminal bacteria communities in Sika deer. Full article

Survival crises stalk many animals, especially endangered and rare animals. Accurate species identification plays a pivotal role in animal resource conservation. In this study, we developed an animal species identification method called Analysis of whole-GEnome (AGE), which identifies species by finding species-specific sequences through bioinformatics analysis of the whole genome and subsequently recognizing these sequences using experimental technologies. To clearly demonstrate the AGE method, Cervus nippon, a well-known endangered species, and a closely related species, Cervus elaphus, were set as model species, without and with published genomes, respectively. By analyzing the whole genomes of C. nippon and C. elaphus, which were obtained through next-generation sequencing and online databases, we built specific sequence databases containing 7,670,140 and 570,981 sequences, respectively. Then, the species specificities of the sequences were confirmed experimentally using Sanger sequencing and the CRISPR-Cas12a system. Moreover, for 11 fresh animal samples and 35 commercially available products, our results were in complete agreement with those of other authoritative identification methods, demonstrating AGE’s precision and potential application. Notably, AGE found a mixture in the 35 commercially available products and successfully identified it. This study broadens the horizons of species identification using the whole genome and sheds light on the potential of AGE for conserving animal resources. Full article

The gut microbiota establishment in young ruminants has a profound impact on their adult production performance. However, the critical phase for the succession of the gut microbial composition and metabolic profiles of juvenile sika deer still needs to be further investigated. Here, we analyzed the fecal microbiota and metabolites of juvenile sika deer during the birth (D1), transition (D42), and rumination (D70) periods based on 16S rRNA sequencing and gas chromatography–time–of–flight mass spectrometry (GC–TOF–MS). The results showed that the fecal bacteria and metabolites composition were significantly different in D1 compared to D42 and D70, and the number of OTUs and the Shannon index were significantly higher in D70 than in D1 (p < 0.05). The relative abundances of Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, and Lachnoclostridium showed a significant increase in D1 compared to D42 and D70, whereas the relative abundances of Ruminococcaceae UCG-005, Ruminococcaceae UCG-010, Ruminococcaceae UCG-014, Christensenellaceae R-7, and Eubacterium coprostanoligenes group were significantly decreased in D1 compared to D42 and D70 (p < 0.05). The amounts of serine, phenylalanine, aspartic acid, ornithine, citrulline, creatine, isoleucine, galactose, and ribose in the feces were significantly higher in D1 compared to D42 and D70. In contrast, the concentrations of cortexolone, resveratrol, piceatannol, fumaric acid, alpha-ketoglutarate, glycerol, uracil-5-carboxylic acid, and maleic acid were significantly decreased in D1. The enrichment analysis showed that amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism were significantly changed in D1 compared to D42 and D70. The glycine, serine and threonine metabolism; alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism; arginine biosynthesis; glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism; citrate cycle; and pyruvate metabolism were significantly enriched across the three periods (p < 0.05). In conclusion, our results suggested that the birth–transition period is a critical phase for the gut bacterial community and metabolic function shift in juvenile sika deer. Full article