岩松鼠的食物贮藏行为

食物贮藏是许多动物对不可预见的食物供应变化的一种重要适应.岩松鼠(Sciurotamias davidianus)为中国特有物种,广泛分布于华北地区的山地和丘陵地带.作者在北京市东灵山地区建造半自然围栏(4 m×3 m× 1 m),以核桃(Juglans regia)和山杏(Prunus armeniaca)种子为备选食物,对岩松鼠(12只)的食物贮藏行为进行了研究.数据的统计分析采用SPSS for Windows进行.研究结果表明1)岩松鼠表现出集中和分散两种食物贮藏方式,而分散贮藏是其偏好的贮藏方式;2) 当遇到贮藏食物被盗窃时,岩松鼠倾向于搬运更多的食物进行集中和分散贮藏;3)岩松鼠没有在食盘就地取食任何一种食物;把食物搬离后,岩松鼠所取食的山杏种子数量明显多于所取食的核桃数量;4)岩松鼠只选择核桃进行分散贮藏;5)岩松鼠对核桃的搬运距离大于山杏种子.本研究结果提示,在自然条件下,岩松鼠对核桃和山杏的天然更新起着不同的作用动物学报 51(3)376-382,2005].

Food-hoarding behaviour of David's rock squirrel Sciurotamias davidianus

Food storage is an important adaptation of some animal species to the temporal variation or unpredictable food supplies. David's rock squirrel Sciurotamias davidianus occurs in mountainous and hilly areas of north China. Food-hoarding behaviour of this species was unknown. We set up four semi-natural enclosures in the Donglingshan Mountain area near Beijing, and investigate the hoarding strategy of 12 David's rock squirrels and their response to perceived pilferage on seeds of walnuts Juglans regia and wild apricot Prunus armeniaca. The results show that: 1) David's rock squirrels hoarded food items in both larder and scatter patterns but more items were scatter hoarded; 2) when confronted by perceived pilferage on hoarded food, David's rock squirrels increased both larder hoarding and scattered hoarding; 3) none of the seeds of wild apricot and walnut were eaten at the feeder. David's rock squirrels consumed more seeds of wild apricot than that of walnuts outside nest boxes; 4) David's rock squirrels only scatter hoarded walnuts; and 5) seeds of walnuts were transported greater distances than that of wild apricot. The result suggests that David's rock squirrels might play different roles in natural regeneration of walnuts and wild apricots.