Food preference strategy of four sympatric rodents in a temperate forest in northeast China

Dianwei Li; Chengzhi Zhang; Yuwei Cao; Ming Gao; Shiqi Chang; Menghao Xu; Zhimin Jin; Hongwei Ni

doi:10.3897/zookeys.1158.96886

Food preference strategy of four sympatric rodents in a temperate forest in northeast China

Zookeys. 2023 Apr 21:1158:163-177. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1158.96886. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Dianwei Li^{1

2

3}, Chengzhi Zhang², Yuwei Cao², Ming Gao², Shiqi Chang², Menghao Xu², Zhimin Jin², Hongwei Ni¹

Affiliations

¹ Heilongjiang Academy of Forestry, No. 134 Haping Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China Heilongjiang Academy of Forestry Harbin China.
² College of Life Sciences and Technology, Mudanjiang Normal University, No. 191 Wenhua Road, Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang 157011, China Mudanjiang Normal University Mudanjiang China.
³ College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, No. 26 Hexing Road, Harbin 150040, China Northeast Forestry University Harbin China.

Abstract

Rodents are well known as both seed predators and dispersers of various plant species in forest ecosystems, and they play an important role in the regeneration of vegetation. Thus, the research on seed selection and vegetation regeneration by sympatric rodents is an interesting topic. To understand the characteristics of preferences of rodents for different seeds, a semi-natural enclosure experiment was performed with four rodent species (Apodemuspeninsulae, Apodemusagrarius, Tscherskiatriton, and Clethrionomysrufocanus) and the seeds of seven plant species (Pinuskoraiensis, Corylusmandshurica, Quercusmongolica, Juglansmandshurica, Armeniacasibirica, Prunussalicina, and Cerasustomentosa) to investigate the differentiation in niches and patterns of resource utilization of sympatric rodents. The results showed that all the rodents had consumed many seeds of Pi.koraiensis, Co.mandshurica, and Q.mongolica but differed significantly in how they selected the different seeds. The rate of utilization (R_i) of Pi.koraiensis, Co.mandshurica, and Q.mongolica exhibited the highest values. The E_i values indicated that the rodents tested exhibited differences in their priorities used to select the seeds from different plant species. All four species of rodents exhibited obvious preferences for certain seeds. Korean field mice preferentially consumed the seeds of Q.mongolica, Co.mandshurica, and Pi.koraiensis. Striped field mice favor the seeds of Co.mandshurica, Q.mongolica, P.koraiensis, and Nanking cherry. Greater long-tailed hamsters prefer to consume the seeds of Pi.koraiensis, Co.mandshurica, Q.mongolica, Pr.salicina, and Ce.tomentosa. Clethrionomysrufocanus likes to eat the seeds of Pi.koraiensis, Q.mongolica, Co.mandshurica, and Ce.tomentosa. The results supported our hypothesis that sympatric rodents overlap in food selection. However, each rodent species has a marked preference for food selection, and different rodent species differ in their food preferences. This reflects the role of distinct food niche differentiation in their coexistence.

Keywords: Coexistence; competition; fitness; food selection; niche; niche differentiation.

Dianwei Li, Chengzhi Zhang, Yuwei Cao, Ming Gao, Shiqi Chang, Menghao Xu, Zhimin Jin, Hongwei Ni.