Structure and function of species interaction network in forest ecosystem which declined by herbivore

位于日本中部纪井半岛的大原山的森林最近遭受了因梅花鹿（Cervus nippon）数量增加而造成的森林砍伐，梅花鹿剥去了许多针叶树的树皮，造成枯死。树冠的减少增加了森林内部的光照，使得森林地面上密密地覆盖着莎草，莎草在更多的光照下生长得很好。茂密的莎草覆盖抑制了针叶树幼苗在森林地面上的生长和存活。树苗被鹿啃食着。结果，大原山的森林部分从针叶林变成了莎草草地。从密林到莎草草地的变化影响了群落结构和生物功能。例如，梅花鹿的密集种群减少了鸟类群落的多样性和丰度，但不会通过粪便供应增加屎壳郎组合的多样性或丰度。

Forests in Mt.Ohdaigahara, located on the Kii Peninsula in central Japan, has recently suffered deforestation caused by an increasing population of sika deer (Cervus nippon), which strip the bark of many coniferous trees, causing dieback. Canopy loss increased light inside the forest, allowing the forest floor to become densely covered with sasa grass, which grows well with more light. The dense covering of sasa grass inhibited conifer seedlings from growing and surviving on the forest floor. Seedlings were browsed by the deer. As a result, the forest in Mt.Ohdaigahara has been partly changed form coniferous forest to sasa grassland. The change from dense forest into sasa grassland affected the community structure and function of organisms. For example, a dense population of sika deer decreases the diversity and abundance of bird communities, but not increases the diversity or abundance of dung beetle assemblages through dung supply.