LTREB: Oak Mast as a Keystone Resource in Forest Community Dynamics

9306641沃尔夫在阿巴拉契亚山脉南部的山湖生物站进行的一项长达13年的研究结果表明，桅杆生产与初级和次级消费者之间存在着动态的互动。间歇性的肥大生产导致了老鼠、花栗鼠和其他肥大消费者的数量波动。食肉动物，主要是条纹猫头鹰，表现出对啮齿动物密度的数量反应。种子的存活和萌发只发生在桅杆生产的高峰期，幼苗的死亡与鹿的觅食活动有关。花栗鼠似乎是地面筑巢鸟类的主要捕食者，它们的密度与幼崽的成功成反比。该项目将在两年内继续监测这些营养水平的主要参与者，以确定断断续续的桅杆生产对选定的初级和次级消费者、种子存活和森林再生以及阿巴拉契亚南部落叶森林群落的社区稳定的直接和间接影响。具体地说，该项目将(1)确定桅杆生产在调节三种以种子为食的啮齿动物--白足鼠、鹿鼠和花栗鼠的种群密度中的作用；(2)确定啮齿动物密度的波动是否以及如何影响种子的存活和发芽率，以及地面筑巢鸟类(主要是丛林鸟)的雏鸟成功；(3)测试落叶橡树种子丰满的捕食者-满足性假说；(4)确定鹿对林下植被的生存和生长的作用；以及(5)在预期吉普赛蛾入侵之前，提供关于这些方面的群落结构和动态的基线数据。这类研究项目对于理解森林生态系统组成的种群之间的复杂相互作用尤为重要。这项工作的结果也应该对物种相互作用产生基本的见解，S提供了适用于更好的森林资源管理的信息。***

9306641 Wolff Results from a 13-year study conducted at the Mountain Lake Biological Station in the southern Appalachian Mountains suggests a dynamic interaction between mast production and primary and secondary consumers. Episodic mast production has resulted in population fluctuations of mice, chipmunks, and other mast consumers. Carnivores, primarily barred owls, exhibit a numerical response to rodent densities. Seed survival and germination occurs only during peak mast production years and seedling mortality is associated with deer browsing activity. Chipmunks appear to be the major predators on ground nesting birds, and their densities are inversely correlated with junco fledgling success. This project will continue the monitoring of the major players in these trophic levels for two years to determine the direct and indirect effects of episodic mast production on selected primary and secondary consumers, seed survival and forest regeneration, and community stability in a southern Appalachian deciduous forest community. Specifically the project will (1) determine the role of mast production in regulating population densities of three seed-eating rodent species, white-footed mice, deer mice, and chipmunks, (2) determine if and how fluctuating rodent densities affect seed survival and germination rates, and fledgling success of ground nesting birds, primarily juncos, (3) test the predator-satiation hypothesis for seed masting in deciduous oaks, (4) determine the role of deer browsing on survival and growth of understory vegetation, and (5) provide baseline data on these aspects of the community structure and dynamics prior to the anticipated invasion of gypsy moths. %%% Research projects of this type are especially important to the understanding of the complex interactions of populations comprised by the forest ecosystem. Results from the work should yield fundamental insights on species interactions as well s provided information applicable to the be tter management of forest resources. ***