Intra-annual variation in oak masting affects wildlife feeding behavior

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Wildlife Biology
• Forest Science

Background:

• Oaks (Quercus spp.) are vital food sources for wildlife, particularly during fall and winter.
• Existing research on oak masting primarily focuses on annual patterns, potentially overlooking seasonal variations.
• Seasonal masting patterns may significantly influence wildlife behavior and resource utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify seasonal oak masting patterns for three species: water oak (Q. nigra), laurel oak (Q. laurifolia), and swamp chestnut oak (Q. michauxii).
• To link seasonal masting patterns with the visitation and feeding behaviors of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis), and raccoons (Procyon lotor).

Main Methods:

• Utilized seed traps to monitor seasonal acorn production from 205 oak trees over two fall seasons (2021-2022).
• Employed camera traps to observe wildlife visitation and feeding behaviors at 30 selected trees concurrently with seed trapping.
• Analyzed seasonal masting variations within and across species and years.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in seasonal masting patterns were observed among the three oak species and varied across years.
• White-tailed deer showed increased visitation and consumption of swamp chestnut oak acorns as production rose.
• Gray squirrels and raccoons visited laurel oak trees, with gray squirrels consuming water oak acorns more frequently as acorn availability increased.

Conclusions:

• Seasonal acorn production patterns differ significantly among oak species and across years, impacting wildlife foraging.
• Wildlife visitation and feeding behaviors are closely linked to the seasonal availability and species of acorns.
• A multi-temporal scale approach to evaluating acorn production is essential for a comprehensive understanding of oak-wildlife interactions and their implications for oak regeneration.