Differences in hoarding behaviors among six sympatric rodent species on seeds of oil tea (Camellia oleifera) in Southwest China

Seed hoarding is an important behavioral adaptation to food shortages for many rodent species. Sympatric rodents may affect the natural regeneration of large-seeded trees differently as seed dispersers or seed predators. Using seeds of oil tea (Camellia oleifera), we investigated differences in hoarding behaviors among six sympatric rodent species in semi-natural enclosures in a subtropical forest in southwest of China. We found that all these six species ate seeds of C. oleifera, but only Edward’s long-tailed rats (Leopoldamys edwardsi) were predominantly scatter hoarders; chestnut rats (Niviventer fulvescens) and white-bellied rats (Niviventer confucianus) scatter hoarded and larder hoarded few seeds, but were seed predators; South China field mice (Apodemus draco) exhibited little larder-hoarding behavior; and Chevrier’s field mice (A. chevrieri) as well as Himalayan rats (Rattus nitidusa) did not hoard seeds at all. The rodents that engaged in scatter hoarding often formed single-seed caches and tended to cache seeds under grass or shrubs. Our findings indicate that sympatric rodents consuming seeds of the same species of plant can have different hoarding strategies, affecting seed dispersal and plant regeneration differently. We conclude by discussing the role of these species in hoarding seeds of C. oleifera and highlight the essential role of Edward’s long-tailed rats as predominantly potential dispersers of this plant species.