Temporal Change in spatial distribution and genetic structure of a sika deer population

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The distribution area of sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Hokkaido has expanded from east to west during the 1990s and the 2000s. The genetic structure changed from 4 to 3 subpopulations based on mtDNA and from 5 to 3 subpopulations based on microsatellite DNA across the 15-year periods. The temporal change in mtDNA-based structure might be linked to the dispersal of female deer from higher (the northeast) to lower (the northwest) density area. In comparison, the change in microsatellite DNA-based structure might be linked to the bi妖irectional dispersal of males among subpopulations. The environmental barrios for deer movement or dispersal were estimated to be snow depth, large river, city area, fewer vegetation cover and higher elevation area based on the simulation model using the data of sighting per unit effort.