◆A paper by Faculty of Science and Technology led by Kuroshio Science ProgramGraduate SchoolKuroshio Science Program and Jioie Muriel Aquino dela Vega, along with Faculty of Science and Technology, has been published in the *Journal of Forest Research*.
Release Date:
We have demonstrated that the recovery of herbaceous plant communities in forest floors, which have declined due to long-term browsing by Japanese deer, can be promoted through the relocation of vegetation blocks and topsoil.
A paper by a research team led by Associate Professor Faculty of Science and Technology, along with Kuroshio Science ProgramGraduate SchoolKuroshio Science Program and Jioie Muriel Aquino dela Vega, has been published in the *Journal of Forest Research*, with the online version released on January 16, 2025.
Damage to plant communities caused by Japanese deer browsing has become a problem throughout Japan. Installing deer fences is an effective method for protecting plant communities from deer browsing. However, reports indicate that even after installing deer fences, it is difficult to restore plant communities that have declined due to long-term deer browsing to their pre-browsing condition.
A research group led by Mr. Seto has demonstrated that when vegetation that has suffered only minor damage from browsing remains after the early installation of deer fences, relocating these vegetation blocks and topsoil into the newly installed fenced areas can promote the recovery of herbaceous plant communities that have declined due to long-term browsing by Japanese deer.
For more details on our research, .
Title: Effectiveness of turf and topsoil translocation for restoring long-term overgrazed understory herbaceous vegetation in coniferous/broadleaf deciduous mixed forests in Shikoku, Japan
Authors: Mifumi Setoa*, Ayu Komatsub, Shuta Ohyamab, Diane Shiela Castilloa, Jioie Muriel Aquino dela Vegaa, Motoki Higab,c, Shingo Ishikawac, and Motohiro Kawanishid
Affiliation: Graduate SchoolGraduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences; b Faculty of Science and Technology Technology; c The Association for the Preservation of Mt. Sanrei; dFaculty of Education