School of Conservation Sciences

• Group Home
• About the Group
• Research
• Boscombe Surf Reef
• Monitoring environmental change
• Understanding environment and change
• Impacts of environmental change
• Habitats and ecosystem services
• Invasive species
• Individual-based ecology
• The ecology of Sika deer in the Purbecks
• The ecology of Sika deer in the Purbecks
• Effect of alpine marmots on endemic Iris latifolia
• Impacts of grazing on lowland heathland
• Species distribution modelling
• Landscapes and Carbon Assessment
• Spatial dynamics of species & habitats
• Earth systems
• Geoinformatics
• Policy and practice
• People
• Education
• Consultancy
• Publications
• Partners
• Contact Us
• PhD Studentships
• index

The ecology of Sika deer in the Purbecks

Sika deer, Cervus nippon, were first introduced to deer parks in Dorset from their native Japan and East Asia just over a hundred years ago. A few individuals escaped and the Isle of Purbeck, near Bournemouth, now has the largest group of feral Sika deer in England. Purbeck contains a rich mosaic of internationally important wildlife habitats and so it is crucial to be able to determine the impact of Sika deer on these habitats This includes their impact on plants and invertebrates that are important food sources for waterfowl. We are investigating the way in which deer use a range of habitats and also examining deer feeding ranges and population dynamics. This work is being carried out in collaboration with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The MOD, English Nature and Biotrack.

You can find more information on the Genetics of sika and red deer in the New Forest here.

For more details contact Dr Anita Diaz

• Search for a Course
• Register for Open Days, Events & Exhibitions
• Apply to BU
• Fees & Funding
• Virtual Tour