Research Activity Report
Supported by “Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science”(Please be sure to submit this report after the trip that supported by PWS.)

2015. 10, 31
Affiliation/Position

Primate Research Institute/InternshipName

Yan Xiaochanx

1. Country/location of visit
Japan, Yakushima
2. Research project
Relation between age/body size and fecal pellet size in Sika deer( Cervus nippon yakushimae ) of Yakushima
3. Date (departing from/returning to Japan)
2015. 10. 18 – 2015. 10. 24 (7days)
4. Main host researcher and affiliation
Dr. Hanya, Dr. Yumoto, Associate Professor at Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University
5. Progress and results of your research/activity (You can attach extra pages if needed)
Please insert one or more pictures (to be publicly released). Below each picture, please provide a brief description.

During Yakushima Field Science Course, I studied on the relationship between age/body size and fecal pellet
size in Sika deers ( Cervus nippon yakushimae ) of Yakushima, which using a non-invasive method tocollection DNA samples. With a rapid population expansion of deer in Yakushima, more and more damage tolocal vegetation which maybe raise to a serious ecological problem in the future. In order to control thedevelopment of deer, it is vital to understand sex and age structure among deers..We aimed to findrelationship between age/body size and fecal pellet size so that we can get further message about sex and age
structure in Sika deer.
From19th to 21th, we were supposed to collect feces samples divided by three teams, work from 07:45 to
15:00. First, we followed deer and waited for defecation. It is very hard to follow a male or juvenile, for they
are more sensitive to human. Second, video-taped the defecating deer and estimate the length from shoulder
to hoof. Third, swabbed of feces’ surface for DNA analysis, collect all the fecal pellets when observing
defecation. Finally, when we backed to dormitory, we measured longer and shorter axis for all pellets andcalculated the deer’s body size by video analysis and recorded the data in ours computer. In 22th, wediscussed the result and prepared the presentation which held on 23th. During analyzing, it took us a longtime to deal with origin data. At the first time, we were confused which method should we use to analyze theorigin data. Focusing on statistical analysis, we found there was significant relationship between adults andjuveniles for both longer and shorter axis, which suggested that pellet size is decided by age. However, there
is no correlation between body size and pellet size. For collecting samples and statistical analysis, we wereconfronted with some limitations like inaccurate method of body size estimation.
As far as I’m concerned, according Yakushima Field Science Couse, I got the opportunity to observe wild
Japanese macaque and deer, it is very different with Rhesus macaque. What surprised me most is the specificrelationship between Japanese macaques and deer. It is said that a normal culture between Japanese macaqueand deer. What’s more, I got the basic knowledge of non-invasive method, field work and statistical analysis
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2014.05.27 version

Research Activity Report
Supported by “Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science”(Please be sure to submit this report after the trip that supported by PWS.)

which I will use in my recent research. According cooperation, I realized how powerful it is when we wereconfronted with problems and obstacles. Through this experience, I have developed a clear vision on how tocope with students came from different country, teachers, local people and wild animals, which will be ofgreat help for me to understand the importance of cooperation, respect and diligence. To sum up, I spent amemorable experience with this course and learnt basic methods of field work which I need to learn for myrecent research.

Fig.1 Two Japanese macaquesFig.3 An adult male

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Fig.2 An adult male, Sika deerFig.4 An adult male, Sika deer

2014.05.27 version

Research Activity Report
Supported by “Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science”(Please be sure to submit this report after the trip that supported by PWS.)

Fig.5 Group photo
6. Others
I would like to express my gratitude to Prof. Hanya Goro and Prof. Yumoto for their guidance. I also want toexpress my gratitude to PWS for supporting this field course.

Submit to：report@wildlife-science.org

2014.05.27 version