啮齿动物对植物种子的多次贮藏

Repeated Caching of Plant Seeds by Small Rodents

啮齿动物对种子的多次搬运和贮藏是极为复杂的行为过程 ,既是对自己贮藏物进行管理、防御竞争者盗食的一种策略 ,也是盗食其它个体贮藏物的一种食物利用方式。此外 ,啮齿动物多次贮藏种子的过程实际上也是植物种子的多阶段扩散过程 ,因而对植物更新产生重要影响。本文综述了啮齿动物对植物种子多次贮藏的研究进展 ,分析了多次贮藏种子的原因 。

Repeated transportation and caching (i.e., recaching) of seeds by rodents is a very complicated behavior, which may be a strategy for them to manage their own caches and to defend the pilferage, and which may also be a method to pilfer the caches made by other individuals. Moreover, the process of repeated caching is indeed the multistage dispersal of plant seeds, which may play a vital role in plant regeneration. However, little is known about the ecological implications of seed recaching by small rodents and its consequences. This paper reviews the process of seed recaching by rodents, analyses the causes, and discusses the ecological significance from the viewpoint of both rodents and plants.