Ecology of Acorn Dispersal by Small Mammals in Montane Forests of Chiapas, Mexico

摘要: The highlands of central and eastern Mexico are the major centre diversity (60–75 species) for genus Quercus (Nixon 1993; Chap. 1). Oaks canopy dominants in many forests mountains Mexico, provide a wide range biological resources insect, mammal bird species (QuintanaAscencio et al. 1992; Tovar-Sanchez 2003; Chaps. 14, 16 20). occurrence temporal fruiting synchronicity oak populations (usually termed masting or mast seeding) has cascading effects acorn consumers. Understanding such mast-dependent ecological chain reactions is important predicting, managing conserving montane forests. In more northern temperate forests, small rely on acorns as an food source (Wolff 1996), mammals potential seed dispersers (Price Jenkins 1986; Steele Smallwood 2002). However, there little information available extent to which oaks dispersal Neotropical Most suffer reproductive failure under their own canopies (Crow 1988; Lorimer 1994; Figueroa-Rangel Olvera-Vargas 2000; 28), relying instead forest edges clearings where establishment success increased (Lopez-Barrera 2003, see 14 16). Chiapas Highlands, traditional land use slashand-burn agriculture, existing since pre-Columbian times, resulted mosaics comprised (0.5–2 ha; pastures, cornfields shrublands), surrounded by fragments secondary forest, evergreen cloud pine–oak with various levels disturbance (see 16), resulting creation different edge types varying sharpness, hard soft (Fig. 13.1). Oak regeneration this landscape small-scale, scattered disturbances (Gonzalez-Espinosa 1991; 16) primarily due resprouting ability activity dispersers. This con-