Effect of woodland patch size on rodent seed predation in a fragmented landscape.

Summary, in English

Predation on large woody plant seeds; chestnuts, acorns and sloe kernels, was studied in

deciduous forests of two size classes: small woodlots (< 1 ha) and large woods (at least 25

ha) in southern Sweden. Seeds used for the study were artificially distributed on the

forest ground and seed predation measured as seed removal. Predation rate was similar

in both types of woods. However, rodent density was higher in small woodlots and a

correction for differences in rodent density showed that predation rate per individual

rodent was higher in the large woods. This suggests that the small woodlots (including

the border zone) and their adjacent fields have more rodent food per area unit. A small

woodlot cannot be considered a representative sample of a large continuous forest, even

if the habitats appear similar. There was a strong effect of rodent density on seed predation

rate. This suggests that rodents are major seed predators in this habitat.

• Author: Jon Loman
• Department/s: Evolutionary ecology
• Publishing year: 2007
• Language: English
• Pages: 47-52
• Publication/Series: Web Ecology
• Volume: 7
• Links: http://www.oikos.ekol.lu.se/wepdfs/Web_Ecol.7.47-52.pdf
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: European Ecological Federation in cooperation with Oikos
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1399-1183