| 要旨トップ | 目次 | 日本生態学会第66回全国大会 (2019年3月、神戸) 講演要旨
ESJ66 Abstract


一般講演(ポスター発表) P2-364  (Poster presentation)

Effects of acorn abundance on the individual growth of the Japanese wood mouse

*Takuya SHIMADA(FFPRI), Hiroki ITO(FFPRI, Hokkaido)

Acorns are generally regarded as a staple resource for rodents in temperate forests. Indeed, increase in rodent density after acorn masting has been frequently observed. However, detailed mechanisms causing such population responses have been still unclear. Here, we examined the effects of acorn abundance on individual growth patterns in the Japanese wood mouse Apodemus speciosus. Studies were conducted in a secondary forest in Iwate, northern Japan, in which the konara oak Quercus serrata was dominated. The capture-recapture method was conducted during 2010-2018. Gomperz growth curve was constructed for females born in spring using the individual capture-history. We analyzed growth curve to estimate growth rate, asymptotic weight, and the age at which maximum growth occurs, by adopting the acorn-effect-incorporated hierarchical Bayesian model, which included effects of acorn abundance in asymptotic weight and growth rate. As a result, mice born in spring after acorn-rich years tended to be smaller but have a higher growth rate. It indicates that females born after acorn-rich years grew rapidly, but slowed down its growth rate earlier, and consequently matured at lower weight. This finding implies that wood mice can alter their life history traits in response to acorn abundance.


日本生態学会