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cje ›› 2004, Vol. ›› Issue (1): 107-110.

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Influence on seed bank of Quercus liaotungensis by birds and rodents in Dongling Mountain

MA Jie, LI Qingfen, SUN Ruyong, LIU Dingzhen   

  1. Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education & Institute of Ecology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
  • Received:2003-04-09 Revised:2003-06-26 Online:2004-02-10

Abstract: Two plots with different slopes were selected for seed rain test in Liaotong oak (Quercus liaotungensis) forest in Dongling Mountain region of Beijing. The characteristics of seed bank and the population of rodents in the two plots were conducted from mid-Aogust. to the beginning of October. 2000. Results showed that the seed rain of Liaodong oaks continued about 40 days. The characteristics of the seed rain in two plots paralleled well and most seeds fell in mid-September, but the seed productivity were different in the two plots. Twenty-four traps above ground and twenty small plots on ground (about 0.5 m2) were randomly located in each plot. Significant difference in the seed crop size was found between traps in the air and on the ground in the two plots, yet no significant difference was found in the number of cups and acorns inside the traps. Our results indicated that birds showed little impact on the seed bank of oak in this area, but rodents showed a heavy impact on the seed bank. Four species of rodents, Apodemus peninsulae, Niviventer confucianus,Clethrionomys rufocanus and Eutamias sibiricus might contribute to the ground seed dispersal. The dominant species Apodemus peninsulae which accounts for 77.2% of the community might have the most important impact on seed dispersal.

Key words: Robinia pseudoacacia, Water physiological ecology, Habitat, Loess Plateau

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