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Knowledge of diet is essential for understanding the mechanism of coexistence among multiple species. Two gleaning bats, the Japanese long-eared bat (Plecotus sacrimontis) and the Ussuri tube-nosed bat (Murina ussuriensis), have similar eco-morphological traits, but it is unclear how they coexist. We examined the seasonal fecal contents of these species in the cool temperate forest of Mount Fuji, central Japan, using microscopical analysis. Long-eared bats, which have larger pinnae, more frequently consumed tympanate insects, such as adult moths, during early spring to summer, whereas tube-nosed bats, which have smaller pinnae, more frequently consumed non-tympanate insects such as caterpillars and grasshoppers, during spring to early summer and summer to autumn, respectively. Interestingly, they consumed insects of the same order but different developmental stages (i.e., adult moths and caterpillars) during spring to early summer, which revelation was made possible by microscopic analysis, not by DNA analysis. These differences suggest that the large pinna of the long-eared bat is an adaptation for preying on tympanate insects, which resulted in food resource partitioning. Additionally, to the best of our knowledge, the Ussuri tube-nosed bat can be considered one of the bats that most frequently eats caterpillars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carcass of a female hairstreak butterfly Chrysozephyrus hisamatsusanus (Nagami & Ishiga) was found at the northern foot of Mt. Fuji, which is east of the current eastern distributional limit of the butterfly. I discuss the dispersal ability and potential of range expansion in this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Semi‐natural grasslands are vital for maintaining grassland butterflies in Japan, as well as in Europe. However, severe decline in these grassland environments has recently attracted attention to linear grasslands, such as firebreaks and power‐line corridors, as alternative habitats for grassland insects. We surveyed butterflies in an abandoned grassland and nearby linear mown firebreaks adjacent to different vegetation at the northern foot of Mt. Fuji, central Japan, over 5 successive years, particularly focusing on species on the 2012 Japanese Red List of Threatened Species (“red‐list” species). We found that the firebreaks were consistently higher in species richness and abundance of butterflies than the long‐term abandoned grassland, and that species composition differed among the firebreaks depending on conditions of the adjacent vegetation. The firebreaks surrounded by forests were mainly utilized by forest and edge species, whereas the firebreaks adjacent to the grassland were essential for conserving red‐list grassland species. Thus, only the mown firebreaks adjacent to the grassland were regarded as a high‐quality alternative habitat for many grassland butterflies, but the area was limited. Therefore, creating heterogeneity in the abandoned grassland by infrequent mowing could help conserve grassland butterflies, including red‐list species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since little is known about the detailed situations of falls on Mount Fuji, the aim of this study was to clarify the risk factors of falls on Mount Fuji in Japan. We conducted a questionnaire survey of 556 participants who had climbed Mount Fuji and collected the following information: fall situation, mental status, fatigue feeling, sex, age, climbing experience on Mount Fuji and other mountains, summit success, whether staying at a lodge, use of a tour guide, and symptoms of acute mountain sickness. Among the 556 participants, 167 had a fall (30%). Among 167 participants who had experienced a fall, 30 had fallen more than three times (18%). The main cause (>60%) of fall were slips. The most optimal model using multiple logistic regression (no fall = 0, and fall = 1) found eight significant risk factors, including sex, prior climbing experience on Mount Fuji, staying overnight at a lodge, subjective feeling of relaxation, sleepiness, emotional stability, dullness, and eyestrain. These results suggest that females, people who have no prior climbing experience on Mount Fuji, and people who did not stay at a lodge should pay attention to an increased risk of falls on Mount Fuji., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.