Effects of Fat and Protein Levels on Foraging Preferences of Tannin in Scatter-Hoarding Rodents

摘要: Both as consumers and dispersers of seeds, scatter-hoarding rodents often play an important role in the reproductive ecology many plant species. However, seeds species contain tannins, which are a diverse group water-soluble phenolic compounds that have high affinity for proteins. The amount tannins is expected to affect rodent foraging preferences because their major impact on physiology survival. variable results been obtained studies evaluated effects tannin behavior. Hence, this study, we aimed explain these inconsistent proposed combination seed traits might be behavior, it difficult distinguish between individual behavior interactions among them. By using novel artificial system, manipulated fat/protein levels examine directly univariate each component free-ranging forest rats (Apodemus latronum Apodemus chevrieri) during behavioral process scatter hoarding. Our showed both had significant Although only few interactive were recorded, higher concentrations fat protein could attenuate exclusion with by rodents, thus influencing fate. Furthermore, aside from tannin, fat, protein, numerous other may also influence We suggest clarifying preferences, better understanding evolution strong potential selective pressure.