Abstract: To learn the effects of seed productivity on nut dispersal of Cork oak (Quercus variabilis)by rodents,we investigated the seed rain of Cork oak in 2008 and 2009,in the State-owned Yugong Forest Farm in Jiyuan,Henan Province, China. After the end of seed rain,tagged nuts of Cork oak were artificially released in secondary forest in the study area. The results showed that:1)Apodemus peninsulae,Niviventer confucianus,and Sciurotamias davidianus were the main rodent species predating nuts of Cork oak. Although success in trapping of the rodents was higher in 2009 (10% )than that in 2008 (2% ),the difference between two years was not significant;2)the seed productivity and constitution of the seed rain of Cork oak varied significantly between years:intact nuts were in the majority in 2008,while there were more aborted seeds in 2009;3)the median survival time of released nuts in 2008 and 2009 were 22.7 d and 8. 8 d,respectively,which indicated that high seed productivity decreased nut dispersal rate;4)the mean transport distance of nuts of Cork oak was significantly shorter in 2008 than that in 2009;and the transport distances of the two years were almost all concentrated within 9 m;5)rodents tended to scatter-hoard more nuts of Cork oak in 2008 than that in 2009. Our results indicated that mast seeding increased the possibility of nuts escaping from predating,and thus benefit plant regeneration due to predator satiation

Key words: Cork oak (Quercus variabilis), Mast seeding, Rodents, Seed dispersal, Seed rain

摘要： 为了解林木种子产量对鼠类种子扩散行为的影响,于2008 年和2009 年,在国有济源市愚公林场调查了栓皮栎的种子雨;在每年的种子雨结束后,选择次生林生境,研究了鼠类对人工释放栓皮栎坚果的扩散,旨在探讨种子产量与种子扩散间的关系。结果表明:1)取食栓皮栎坚果的鼠类主要有大林姬鼠、社鼠和岩松鼠,2008 年的鼠类捕获率(2% )低于2009 年(10%),其差异并未达到显著性水平;2)栓皮栎的种子雨构成和产量存在年际差异,2008 年以完好种子为主且产量高于2009 年,而2009 年以败育种子为主;3)2008 年人工释放栓皮栎坚果的中位存留时间显著高于2009 年;4)2008 年鼠类对栓皮栎坚果的平均扩散距离显著低于2009 年,且两年的搬运距离几乎都集中在9 m 以内;5)2008 年鼠类对栓皮栎坚果的埋藏比例显著高于2009 年。结果提示,在种子高产年份,可能有较多的种子逃脱动物的取食,从而增加种子萌发和幼苗建成的机会,最终促进植物的更新。

关键词: 栓皮栎, 种子雨, 大年结实, 鼠类, 扩散