Observations on Tree Seed Selection and Caching by Edward's Long-Tailed Rat (Leopoldamys edwardsi)

Abstract

Edward's long tailed rat ( Leopoldamys edwardsi ), a dominant rodent spe cies 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 cac h ing of six important tree species ( Quercus varialilis, Q serrata, Castanopsi s f argesii, Lithocarpus harlandii, Cyclobalanopsis glauca, and Camellia oleifer a) b y EdwardDK's long tailed rats, and discussed its effect on forest regener ation Th e results showed that EdwardDK's long tailed rats had a strong selection on seeds of these six tree species, and seed selection and caching seemed to be largely a ffected by the nutrient and tannin content of the tree seeds EdwardDK's long tail ed rats preferred to consume and cache the low tannin seeds of Castanopsis fa rge sii , Camellia oleifera and Lithocarpus harlandii , over the high tanni n seeds of Q serrata, Cyclobalanopsis glauca and Q varialilis EdwardDK' s long tailed rats scatter hoarded many seeds (especially seeds of Camellia oleifera and Lit hocarpu s harlandii ) in the exclosures, and most caches contained only one seed See d se lection and scatter hoarding by EdwardDK's long tailed rats may have a p ositive effect on the regeneration of these six tree species