Intraspecific and environmental variation mediate seed finding effectiveness among scatter-hoarding small mammals

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Behavioral Ecology
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Seed dispersal by animals is crucial for plant regeneration and movement, especially for keystone species.
• Small mammals are vital seed dispersers and predators, yet their seed-finding effectiveness is understudied.
• Understanding seed finding is critical for predicting plant population dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate environmental, demographic, and individual personality factors influencing small mammal seed-finding effectiveness.
• To quantify how seed availability, mammal density, and personality affect seed discovery and dispersal.
• To identify key predictors of the initial stages of seed predation and dispersal.

Main Methods:

• Field experiment involving southern red-backed voles (Myodes gapperi) and deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus).
• Assaying individual animal personalities and recording foraging behavior at experimental seed stations.
• Assessing the impact of seed type (white pine, red oak), seed availability, mammal density, and forest treatment on seed finding.

Main Results:

• Timid voles found fewer white pine seeds and at slower rates.
• Higher small mammal density increased red oak acorn discovery and speed.
• Individual seed-finding rates for white pine seeds correlated positively with seed availability.
• Forest treatment and small mammal species richness affected overall seed discovery and removal.

Conclusions:

• Animal personality significantly influences the quantity of seeds found.
• Small mammal density and seed availability are key drivers of seed-finding effectiveness.
• Behavioral diversity in small mammals is crucial for accurate predictions of seed dispersal and predation rates.
• This research enhances understanding of the critical initial step in seed-animal interactions.