关键词: 贮藏行为, 最优贮藏空间模型, 种子价值, 种子大小

Abstract: We used Edward's long-tailed rats (Leopoldamys edwardsi) and Cork oak (Quercus varialilis)seeds with different seed size, a dominant granivore and tree species in the experimental forest of Dujiangyan City, Sichuan Province, to test the two predictions of the Optimal Cache Spacing Model in a semi-natural enclosure: (1) The caching proportion of big seeds (high value)should be higher than that of small ones (low value); and (2) the big seeds will be cached at a longer distance from their source sites than will the small ones. The experimental results supported prediction (1): the removal proportion of big seeds (39% )was higher than that of small ones (21.5% ), and the caching proportion of big ones (16% )was also higher than that of small ones (7% ). But, there were little difference between big seeds and small ones in dispersal distance of cached seeds, so prediction (2) was not supported. Our results suggested that seed value had significant effect on hoarding behavior of rodents,but enclosure effect might prevent falsifying the prediction (2).

Key words: Hoarding behavior, Optimal Cache Spacing Model, Seed value, Seed size