ECOLOGY OF THE JAPANESE DORMOUSE II

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ECOLOGY OF THE JAPANESE DORMOUSE II
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Study aims
Life history Reproduction
Hibernation Life span
Weight changed etc.
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Study area

• 15001600 m above sea levels
• Flat land
• Deciduous forests
• Pinus densiflora,
• Betula platyphylla,
• Clethra barbinervis

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Distribution of Glirulus japonicus
Natural monument Sub extinct species (Red
Data) Weight18 g Arboreal
Natural monument Sub extinct species (Red
Data) Weight18 g Arboreal
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Dormouse Museum
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Kiyosato
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From 1988 through 2005 Checking the nest boxes
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Study site
1.In 1988100100m 1ha 2.In 19892000300300m
9ha 3.In 20012005900600m 5.4ha
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Study site 900m 600m
1426 stakes 313 nest boxes
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Each capture dormouse was-weighted-sexed-marke
d-ranked into 3 age phases pup, sub adult,
adult-mapped-named
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Results Discussion
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Number of individuals 178 September 1988May
2005 17years
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Number of pups and sub-adults
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Sex Ratio of pups
??554510.81
Litter size
1988.11?2005.5
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Males awoke up from hibernation earlier than
females Females hibernated in hibernation
earlier than males
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Before hibernation

• In adult males on average 24.5g (n2)
  
• maximum 30.4g
• -November-
• In adult females on average 20.4g (n4)
  
• maximum
  24.7g
• -September-

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Preying upon birds. (great tit)

• This dormouse may have eaten the bird and her
  eggs.
• Inside the nest box, there was a dormouse, along
  with a partially eaten        dead bird's body
  and some eaten eggs.
• The dormouse feces smelled and looked similar to
  that of a carnivorous animal.

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Life span

• Maximum of 6 years (?) 9 years in
  captivity (?)
• Maximum of 3 years (?)?

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Numbers of nest boxes occupation (300m300m)
19891987
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Numbers of nest boxes occupation (900 600m)
19992005
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In original area(300m300m)Maximum yearly
density2.89/ha (1991)19891997Maximum yearly
density0.67/ha (1991)19992004
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Conclusion

• The activity period was up to the end of October
  from the end of April
• The hibernation period was up to the end of April
  from the end of October
• Breeding season last from Jun to August with two
  peaks
• In sex ratio, ?? 10.96
• Female pups are more than males.

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Conclusion

• The female of life span is shorter.
• Male weight is heavier than females before
  hibernation
• The breeding pressure to the female is high.
• This may influences life span and litter
  size.
• The forest use of the dormouse is not the same.

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Shusaku MINATO