◆Research findings by Associate Professor Motonori Higa and colleagues from the Department of Science and Engineering have been accepted for publication in *Ornithological Science*
Release Date:
Survey Conducted on the Distribution of the Newly Discovered Invasive Bird Species, the Oriental Green Pheasant, in the Forests of Shikoku
― It has been confirmed that the species is widely established in western Shikoku, and that there are many suitable habitats in eastern Shikoku as well ―
A paper detailing the results of a joint research project conducted by Associate Professor Motonori Higa of the Department of Science and Engineering and Hiroshi Matsuda, a graduate of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, in collaboration with the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI) and the Kochi Branch of the Wild Bird Society of Japan, was accepted for publication in the journal *Ornithological Science* on May 17, 2024.
In this study, we investigated the distribution of the Oriental Green Pigeon, a new invasive bird species spreading across western Shikoku, and found that it is primarily distributed in lowland areas with moderate forest cover, and that suitable habitats are also abundant in eastern Shikoku.
In recent years, the spread of the invasive species, the Japanese bush cricket, has been confirmed in Shikoku, raising concerns about its impact on the ecosystem.This study investigated efficient survey methods for the Oriental Green Pigeon and the factors determining its distribution. The results revealed that the Oriental Green Pigeon can be easily located by playing back specific calls through a loudspeaker in the early morning during early summer and observing the resulting responses. It was also found that the species is primarily distributed in lowland areas with moderate forest cover and is widely established in western Shikoku.
Furthermore, it was estimated that suitable habitats are widely distributed even in eastern Shikoku, where the Oriental Cuckoo is not currently established. The study also suggested that, at this stage, there is no evidence of a trend indicating that the presence of the Oriental Cuckoo significantly reduces the probability of occurrence of four native bird species.
Before the Oriental Cuckoo population becomes more dense, it is necessary to conduct further assessments of its impact on native species and to establish efficient trapping methods and monitoring systems to prevent the expansion of its range.
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Please note that this press release is based on a preprint published on July 17, 2024.
[Paper Information]
Title: Non-native Red-billed Blue Magpie (Urocissa erythrorhyncha) has expanded its range into lowland areas with moderate
forest cover, with no significant impact on the presence of native common bird species, in Shikoku, southern Japan
(In Shikoku, southern Japan, the non-native Japanese quail inhabits lowland areas with moderate forest cover, without significantly affecting the proportion of native and common bird species,
(expanded)
Authors: Hirohito Matsuda (Graduate of Kochi University; currently at Kurashiki Municipal Kurashiki First Junior High School), Kazuhiro Kawamura (Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute),
Kiki Hikari (University of Kochi), Shigeho Sato (Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute), Hitoshi Tanioka (Kochi Branch of the Japan Wild Bird Society),
Yuichi Yamaura (Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute)
Published in: Ornithological Science (in press; available as a preprint on Research Square)
Research Funding: Comprehensive Environmental Research Promotion Fund "JPMEERF20234002"
This research was accepted by *Ornithological Science* on May 17, 2024, following peer review, but is currently in press, and
The publication date and issue number have not yet been determined.