Results of the point-frame (PF) method and the frequency (FR) method were compared by use of 340 fecal samples of the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes orocyonoides) collected in the western suburb of Tokyo, Japan. The fecal contents were categorized into 63 food categories. Proportion of each food category to the fecal composition (P%) and frequency (F%) were determined. Twelve food categories whose P% were >2% were selected as “important food categories”. Their annual F% ranged from 5.9% (potato) to 64.8% (monocot leaves). The high F% and great P% type included monocot leaves and insects. The high F% and small P% type included forb leaves and browse leaves which are frequently available but not preferably utilized by the raccoon dog. The low F% and great P% type included mushroom and gingko nut. These foods are seasonal and preferably utilized by the raccoon dog. Other 6 categories had low F% and small P%. The PF method is advantageous in that it is precise, time-saving, and provides FR as well. Synthetic use of both F% and P% by the PF method is recommended, because the combination of P% and F% provides the ecological significance of the characters of foods and F% evaluation without P% or based on a small sample size is imprecise or less informative.

Mitochondrial genome (mt-genome) sequences are widely used in molecular phylogenetic studies because of their relatively small size and of the strict orthology of their genes. It is sometimes the most difficult step in such studies to get samples particularly from endangered species. Here, we report successful amplification and sequencing of mt-genome of Propithecus (sifaka) from feces sample, using the extract method of Chelex-100 Phenol-Chloroform or QIAamp DNA Stool kit (Qiagen) in combination with FTA cards (Whatmann). For biologists, such a noninvasive sampling method should be an important resource that will provide greater opportunities to collect invaluable samples. By using the mt-genome sequence of sifaka obtained by this work with other published sequences of primates, we estimated the phylogeny of primates, and demonstrated that the evolutionary rate acceleration occurred in the Anthropoids lineage after they diverged from tarsier.

Recent overpopulation of the sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Hokkaido has resulted in expansion of their distribution from eastern to western parts of this island. To assess changes of genetic population structures of the Hokkaido sika deer, mitochondrial DNA control sequences (602 base-pairs) from 283 animals collected from central and western Hokkaido were analyzed. Based on transitional substitutions (A < – > G) at four nucleotide sites, five haplotypes were identified. One haplotype was newly found in the present study, and the other four haplotypes referred to those reported previously. The distribution patterns of haplotypes showed characteristic changes of genetic population structures, compared with the past distribution of haplotypes. In northern Hokkaido, for instance, the population around the Okhotsk Sea-coastal region has clearly expanded to the Japan Seacoastal region. The population around the Ishikari-lowlands and the Hidaka mountains has increased within these areas, and it is not likely that the increase is directly caused by the immigration from eastern Hokkaido.

The geographical variations of the skull in the lesser false vampire (Megaderma spasma) were osteometrically compared between the traditionally-accepted subspecies from Philippines, Borneo, Java, North and South Thailand-Peninsular Malaysia. In female the population from Philippines was larger than any other population in skull size, whereas in male, the size tendency was not clearly found. The population of North Thailand was smaller than the four other populations at least in mean value of measurements in both sexes. The canonical discriminant analysis essentially separated the populations in the scattergrams of discriminant scores. However, the plots of Java, North Thailand and South Thailand-Peninsular Malaysia populations were intermingled in male, and Borneo population could not be obviously separated from the Java and South Thailand-Peninsular Malaysia populations in female.

It has been suggested based on morphological data that a distinct form of Clethrionomys rufocanus (Sundevall 1846) inhabits Daikoku Island, Hokkaido, Japan. This has been treated by some researchers as a different species and has thus, created confusion as to what its real taxonomic status is. Aside from this, it has been suggested that another species of vole exists in the island. We thus compared the genetic and morphological variation of the voles from Daikoku Island with populations from its nearby mainland, Akkeshi and Shibecha and with the two other related species, C. rutilus and C. rex. Direct sequencing of the partial mtDNA control region (745-bp) in 81 voles from the three populations revealed 27 haplotypes. A single unique haplotype was observed in Daikoku, 10 were identified in Akkeshi, and 18 were from Shibecha. Examination of the diagnostic upper third molar pattern indicated that all specimens collected in the island were C. rufocanus. However, discriminant function analysis of the cranial measurements of voles from Daikoku and the mainland (Akkeshi and Shibecha) indicated morphological differentiation. Our genetic and morphological results confirm that a single vole species, C. rufocanus, is present in Daikoku Island, which relatively recently originated from mainland Hokkaido.