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Observations on Tree Seed Selection and Caching by Edward's

XIAO Zhishu ZHANG Zhibin WANG Yushan   

  • Online:2006-08-16 Published:2008-07-07

小泡巨鼠对森林种子选择和贮藏的观察

肖治术 张知彬 王玉山   

  1. 中国科学院动物研究所农业虫鼠害综合治理研究国家重点实验室

Abstract: Edward's long-tailed rat ( Leopoldamys edwardsi), a dominant rodent species in the forest of Dujiangyan Region , Sichuan Province , China , consumes seeds and fruits of many tree species, which may influence the regeneration of these tree species.During the autumn of 2001, we investigated seed selection and caching of six important tree species ( Quercus varialilis, Q. serrata, Castanopsis fargesii, Lithocarpus harlandii, Cyclobalanopsis glauca, and Camellia oleifera) by Edward's long-tailed rats, and discussed its effect on forest regeneration. The results showed that Edward's long-tailed rats had a strong selection on seeds of these six tree species , and seed selection and caching seemed to be largely affected by the nutrient and tannin content of the tree seeds.Edward's long-tailed rats preferred to consume and cache the low-tannin seeds of Castanopsis fargesii, Camellia oleifera and Lithocarpus harlandii, over the high-tannin seeds of Q. serrata, Cyclobalanopsis glauca and Q.varialilis. Edward's long-tailed rats scatter-hoarded many seeds (especially seeds of Camellia oleifera and Lithocarpus harlandii) in the exclosures, and most caches contained only one seed. Seed selection and scatter-hoarding by Edward's long-tailed rats may have a positive effect on the regeneration of these six tree species.

Key words: Edward's long-tailed rat (Leopoldamys edwardsi), Seeds, Selection, Scatter-hoarding, Forest regeneration

摘要: 小泡巨鼠是四川省都江堰林区一种占优势的鼠种, 取食多种林木种子和果实, 可能影响这些树种的更新。于2001 年秋季, 调查了小泡巨鼠对栓皮栎、枹树、栲树、石栎、青冈和油茶等6 种重要林木种子的选择和贮藏,并初步探讨了其对森林更新的影响。结果表明, 小泡巨鼠对上述6 种林木种子有很强的选择性, 种子的营养价值和单宁含量是影响其选择和贮藏的主要因素。小泡巨鼠喜好取食和贮藏单宁含量较低的栲树、油茶和石栎种子,而不喜好取食和贮藏单宁含量较高的枹树、青冈和栓皮栎种子。小泡巨鼠在围栏内分散贮藏了部分种子(特别是石栎和油茶种子) , 且绝大部分贮藏点仅有1 粒种子。小泡巨鼠对种子的选择和贮藏可能对有关林木的更新产生积极影响。

关键词: 小泡巨鼠, 种子, 选择, 分散贮藏, 森林更新