◆Research findings by Assistant Professor Mikiji Tomita Faculty Agricultural Sciences have been published in *Food Webs* and other journals.
Release Date:
Unexpected Interactions Between Crows and Large Mammals Discovered
~On Disruptive Feeding and Parasite Removal~
Assistant Professor Mikiji Tomita of Kochi University and Researcher Hiroyuki Matsuyama of the Hokkaido Institute of Public Health have discovered that crows interact directly with brown bears and Japanese deer. Through observations using camera traps and analysis of photos and videos posted on X (formerly Twitter), they confirmed that crows move about alongside brown bears and forage in the soft soil that the bears have dug up.
Furthermore, it has been revealed that crows remove external parasites (such as ticks) from the bodies of Japanese deer. Analysis of photos and videos posted on X showed that this behavior is observed more frequently in male deer than in female deer.
These findings demonstrate the diversity and flexibility of crow behavior and reflect the abilities they have acquired to survive in their natural environment. Observing the relationship between wild animals and crows may provide clues to understanding the origins of crow behavior that allows them to skillfully adapt to urban environments and interact with humans.
[Paper Information 1]
Title: K., M., Tomita. (2024). Following the bear: The interspecific foraging associations between vertebrate predators of cicada nymphs.
Author: Mikiji Tomita ( Faculty of Agriculture and Marine Science )
Journal: Food Webs
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00354
Publication Date: July 31, 2024
[Paper Information 2]
Title: K. M., Tomita, and H., Matsuyama (2025). Cleaning interactions between crows and sika deer: implications for tick-borne disease management.
Authors: Mikiji Tomita ( Faculty of Agriculture and Marine Science ) and Hiroyuki Matsuyama (Hokkaido Institute of Public Health)
Journal: Ecology and Evolution
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70845
Publication Date: February 5, 2025