INTEGRATING GIS AND REMOTE SENSING FOR EVALUATION AND MONITORING OF SIKA DEER 
HABITAT ON KINKAZAN ISLAND, NORTHERN JAPAN 
Keitarou Hara! and Seiki Takatsuki2 
1Department of Information Systems, Tokyo University of Information Sciences, 1200-2 Yatoh-cho, Wakaba-ku, Chiba, 
265 Japan 
2Laboratory of Wildlife Biology, School of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, 
Tokyo, 113 Japan 
Commission VII, Working Group 5 
KEY WORDS: Wildlife Management, Sika Deer Habitat, Monitoring, Vegetation, GIS, Landsat. 
ABSTRACT 
The methodology of wildlife management using GIS and remote sensing was examined on Kinkazan Island, northem 
Japan. The habitat of Sika deer (Cervus nippon) was analyzed and the procedure of evaluation and monitoring of the 
island landscapes as deer habitat was examined. The census of Sika deer was conducted in the winter of 1990 and the 
distribution was mapped. ARC/INFO and ERDAS IMAGINE were used to analyze landscape characteristics and the 
distribution pattern of Sika deer. Vegetation cover was analyzed using Landsat TM data of April 1990. Five vegetation 
types, i.e., Forest-1 (conifer forests), Forest-2 (mixed forests), Forest-3 (deciduous broadleaved forests), Grass 
(Miscanthus sinensis or Zoysia japonica communities) and Bare ground were distinguished. A large number of deer were 
found in Grass type. The distribution pattern of Sika deer in relation to habitat characteristics was examined. The 
management framework of the island ecosystem was discussed. 
1. INTRODUCTION 2. METHOD 
Geographic information systems (GIS) and remote We analyzed landscape characteristics of Sika deer 
sensing are powerful technologies for collecting, habitat using remotely sensed data (Landsat TM data) 
handling and analyzing spatial data. They are now and GIS. ARC/ANFO and ERDAS IMAGINE were utilized to 
indispensable to natural resources management. We analyze landform characteristics, landcover and the 
examined the methodology of natural resources distribution pattern of Sika deer. We digitized contour 
management, especially wildlife management using GIS lines in each 10 m and made a base map (1/25000). The 
and remote sensing. landform features (altitude, inclination and aspect) were 
Kinkazan Island is a small island situated on the Pacific analyzed using the ARC/NFO GRID module. Altitude was 
side of northern Japan. The island's ecosystem has been divided into 10 classes with an interval of 50 m. 
well conserved due to the religious significance of the Inclination was recorded in 10 classes and aspect was 
Koganeyama shrine. Many Sika deer (Cervus nippon) recorded in 8 classes. Vegetation cover was classified by 
inhabit the island, mainly as a result of the absence of ISODATA clustering using Landsat TM data of 11th April 
predators and the prohibition of hunting. The density of 1990. 
deer is as high as 60 per km?, which results in remarkable The census of Sika deer was conducted in the winter of 
effects on the plant communities (Takatsuki & Gorai, 1990 and was mapped. The location of the deer finding 
1994). Two main problems of the island ecosystem are points were digitized into the base map and ARC point 
recognized: The first is overpopulation of Sika deer and coverage of the deer distribution was then created. The 
the second is the degradation of plant communities relationships between deer distribution and landscape 
caused by the heavy grazing of Sika deer. A mass- characteristics were determined. 
mortality of Sika deer occurred in the spring of 1984 
(Takatsuki et al., 1994) and the windfall of many trees 
was observed in the spring of 1994. 
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International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B7. Vienna 1996 
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