The Formosan sambar deer (Formosan sambar deer, Rusa unicolor swinhoii) has been endangered in Taiwan due to habitat destruction and hunting, but expanded rapidly in recent years. In some areas, the deer became overabundant and caused negative impact to forest. For the purpose of management and conservation, this project aimed to monitor the distribution and population density of sambar, to study its habitat selection, to survey the deer damage to forest, to collect aboriginal people’s opinion and traditional knowledge regarding the deer, and to study the phylogenetic relationship among deer populations. The study areas included Taroko, Yushan, and Sheipa national parks and other mountainous areas in Taiwan.

We set 31 camera traps which totally work 93,790 h at Batongguan, Yushan National Park, and 29 camera traps which totally work 69,291 h at Mt. Xue, Sheipa National Park. The occurrence index (number of effective records per 1,000 h) of sambar was 16.7 and 3.0, respectively. These results combining with data from previous years suggested the sambar was distributed extensively in these national parks, although the population was relatively smaller in Sheipa National Park. Moreover, Sheipa National Park had both lower number of species and relative abundance of medium-large sized mammals.
We applied transect line survey to investigate the distribution boundary of sambar deer populations. The range of deer populations in the east branch of Dalu Forest Road, in the east ridge of Mt. Wuming, and in the Meilan Forest Road were very close to major roads, although the population in West Xue Trail and Xuejian Trail was limited in remote and high-elevational areas.

By analyzing the correlation between sambar occurrence index and environmental variables, we found that elevation and distance to road positively correlated to deer occurrence index, while other micro-habitat environmental variables had little correlation with deer occurrence index. However, we were not able to develop a robust regression model based on the occurrence index. Other index or mathematic model should be applied in the future.

Twenty-eight aboriginal people, most are local leaders or hunters, were interviewed this year. Most respondents observed an increase of sambar population size. However, the prices of deer velvet and meat are too low that few hunters are willing to capture deer. Furthermore, the respondents worried about the decrease of hunters and the hunting culture inheritance.

This project estimated the population density of the Formosan sambar deer and evaluated the level of debarking at Bushin camping area, Lakuin river shelter and Dafen area in Yushan National Park. Densities of Formosan sambar are 43.5，70.4 and 44.2 deer/km2 in the three areas, respectively. Percentage of trees debarked are 8%，47% and13.8%, respectively. Formosan sambar prefers Taiwan hemlock, Taiwan white fir, Taiwan spruce, and Yushan Rhododendron for debarking at high elevations where Bushin and Lakuin are located. At mid-elevations where Dafen is located, Formosan sambar prefers Formosan viburnum, Tibet Lyonia and Alnus for debarking.

This project also monitored the debarking frequency over time of Taiwan red cypress at Nanshi forestry road and found that the frequency peaks from March to June every year, but the frequency was much higher in 2014 than in 2015. The debarking frequency of Taiwan red cypress was not correlated with the activity frequency and population density of the Formosan sambar, but was correlated with the number of bucks renewing or growing antlers. The calcium contents in Taiwan red cypress is the highest among the major forages for Formosan sambar (alpine silver grass and Yushan cane) and other trees. Therefore, this project interpret that male Formosan sambar debarks Taiwan red cypress to supplement calcium for the growth of antlers.

From 2012 to 2015, the incorporated research of Formosan sambar estimated the population density of Formosan sambar and percentage of trees debarked or antler-rubbed in seven areas. A total of 65 species in 22 families of trees were debarked or antler-rubbed and Formosan sambar only preferred few of the tree species. The frequency of trees debarked was not correlated with activity and population density of Formosan sambar. Therefore, it should be the specific need for the bark in certain populations instead of the density of population that makes Formosan sambar debark.

In this research project, the Formosan sambar deer’s feces sample from Shei-Pa National Park, Danda Major Wildlife Habitat, Yushan National Park and Da-Wu Shan Nature Reserve region were collected. D-loop full sequence amplification and sequencing from the collected also completed. This year, new sampling region included Jiaren Mountain in Shei-Pa National Park, Jyunda river in Danda Major Wildlife Habitat and Antongun Mountain in Nenggao Cross-ridge, only Jiaren Mountain failed to observe sambar deer’s traces. After filtering based on geographical distance, 1084 sambar deer’s feces samples to avoid the repeated sampling, we analyzed 552 D-loop full sequences, and then 20 D-loop haplotypes were obtained until now. Phylogenetic analyses showed that these haplotypes could be further divided into the Taosai-Sheipa major clade and the Central Mountain major clade with high supported by bootstrap value. Through the calibration of molecular clock, the coalescence time of these two major clades happened in the late Pleostocene ice age. Moreover, we found two genetic barriers, one located between Taroko and Shei-Pa National Park, and the other located between southern Taroko National Park and northern Danda, presented by AMOVA and genetic differentiation index (FST) analysis. Therefore, we assumed that the canyon inside Taroko National Park acted as a geographic barrier during the glacial period because of the interplay of topography and climate, and also became refuge of few sambar deer causing genetic differentiation eventually. In order to thoroughly understand the possibility of animal refuge existing in the Taroko National Park during the glacial period, we attempted to learn the down shifting of vegetation by study the palaeopalynology of past sediment in Lianhua Pond. Totally 13 core pellets were drilled. Based on the dating data at 193 cm in depth, the core could be dated back to 14,450 years ago after calibration. This data suggested that Lianhua Pond might be a small swamp in the last glacial period, and further indicated whether the down shifting vegetation appearance in the Taroko National Park suit sambar deer’s refuge.

Recommendation for immediate strategies:

1.Monitoring the long-term variation pattern of wildlife by setting camera traps in longterm monitoring sites.

2.Transforming this study into materials for popularization of science.

Recommendation for long-term strategies:
1. Developing a cooperative mechanism for managing wildlife resource with aboriginal people.