关键词: 社鼠, 消化道, 形态, 食性, 林型变化

Abstract: The morphology and physiological function of the digestive tract, which would be influenced by habitat change and food quality, plays an important role in energy absorption and distribution for animals. To explore the effects of forest alteration on food habits and digestive tract morphology of the Chinese white-bellied rat(Niviventer confucianus), we investigated the variation exhibited, among rats in five different forest habitat types(primary forest, secondary forest, fuel-wood forest, Pinus armandis plantation forest, Larix leptolepis plantation forest). N. confucianus is primarily seminivorous and carnivorous, however we detected no significant variation in dietary biases among rats in the different forest types. In contrast, while stomach mass did not differ among the forest types, freshi weight including caecum and large intestine contents, fresh weight without caecum and large intestine contents, dry weight of the caecum and large intestine did in exhibit variation but with different trends. Dry weight of the small intestine in secondary forest was significantly higher than in other forest types. Length of large intestine in secondary was longer than that in fuel-wood forest, but was similar to chose in other forest types. Similar food habits among different forests correlated to abundant food resources in autumn. The variation in digestive tract morphology is matched to habitat alteration, with benefits for survival, reproduction and recruitment dynamics.