Vol.45-4 ABSTRACT4
Abstract Preservation of biodiversity is one of the most important topics to be considered in global environmental problems. The Red-crowned crane, which is called "Tancho" in Japanese, has been designated as a special natural monument by the Japanese government and only about 600 cranes inhabit the Kushiro Wetland and other areas of eastern Hokkaido. In this study, we analyzed the conditions of its present nesting sites using GIS and attempted to develop a simple model of their nesting site selection. This model indicated how large potential nesting areas are left in the Kushiro Wetland. The model showed that only few areas are left as potential nesting sites though the data in the analyses was very simple. To balance the preservation of such rare wildlife and their habitats with development, the conditions under which they can exist should be understood. This study indicated that GIS was available for such analyses. |