嚙齒類動(dòng)物的搬運(yùn)與埋藏植物種子是自然界中的一個(gè)重要的生態(tài)過(guò)程,。對(duì)很多植物來(lái)說(shuō),，通過(guò)嚙齒類動(dòng)物的搬運(yùn)與埋藏是植物實(shí)現(xiàn)種子散布的主要形式,；而對(duì)嚙齒類動(dòng)物本身而言,，也直接關(guān)乎它在未來(lái)抵御食物短缺的能力,。已有的研究通常把嚙齒類動(dòng)物的搬運(yùn)與埋藏植物種子作為一單一的過(guò)程,，而嚙齒類動(dòng)物是如何決策實(shí)現(xiàn)這一復(fù)雜的過(guò)程并不知曉,。西雙版納熱帶植物園動(dòng)植物關(guān)系組王博博士,、陳進(jìn)研究員等通過(guò)一精巧的實(shí)驗(yàn)和模型擬合，表明嚙齒類動(dòng)物的搬運(yùn)埋藏植物種子是一多步驟決策過(guò)程,，不同的種子性狀對(duì)各個(gè)步驟有著不同的影響,，研究結(jié)果以Dissecting the decision making process of scatter-hoarding rodents為題在線發(fā)表于國(guó)際期刊Oikos。
作者首先分析嚙齒類動(dòng)物埋藏種子的過(guò)程可能在四個(gè)環(huán)節(jié)需要決策：1）動(dòng)物遇到植物種子,，是忽略還是利用,；2）對(duì)于利用的種子，是就地取食還是搬運(yùn),；3）對(duì)搬運(yùn)的種子,，要搬運(yùn)多遠(yuǎn)；4）搬運(yùn)后是取食還是埋藏,。作者利用人工種子研究系統(tǒng),，探討不同種子性狀（種子大小、營(yíng)養(yǎng)和單寧含量）對(duì)嚙齒類動(dòng)物埋藏過(guò)程四個(gè)步驟的影響,。
同時(shí),，作者引進(jìn)三種可能的模型：線性模型、折線模型和拋物線模型,，用三種模型檢驗(yàn)上述三個(gè)性狀對(duì)不同步驟的適合度,。研究結(jié)果表明，嚙齒類動(dòng)物埋藏種子行為確實(shí)是一個(gè)分層決策的過(guò)程,，不同種子性狀對(duì)各步驟的影響不同,；種子大小對(duì)上述四個(gè)步驟均有影響，而種子營(yíng)養(yǎng)和單寧含量主要影響第一第三步驟,。研究結(jié)果有助于人們更好理解嚙齒類動(dòng)物埋藏種子這一重要的生態(tài)過(guò)程,。(生物谷Bioon.com)
DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2012.20823.x
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Dissecting the decision making process of scatter-hoarding rodents
Bo Wang, Cheng-Xi Ye, Charles H. Cannon, Jin Chen
Many animals scatter-hoard seeds to ensure an even supply of food throughout the year and this behavior requires similar foraging decisions. Seed-traits have been shown to affect the final foraging decision but little is known about the decision process itself. Here, we first defined four sequential steps comprising the decision process of scatter-hoarding rodents: 1) upon encountering a seed, should it be ignored or manipulated; 2) if manipulated, should it be eaten in situ or removed elsewhere; 3) upon removal, how far away should it be carried; and finally 4) whether to eat or cache the removed seed. Using experimental seeds with controlled differences in size, tannin and nutrient content, we evaluated how different traits influence each step in this decision process. We found that different traits had distinct effects on each step. Seed size affected all four steps, while nutrient and tannin content primarily affected the first and third steps. By dissecting foraging behavior in relation to experimentally controlled seed-traits, we have created an effective framework within which to understand the unique relationship between scatter-hoarding rodents that both predate and disperse plant seeds.
