著者

川道 美枝子

出版者

一般社団法人 日本生態学会

雑誌

日本生態学会誌 (ISSN:00215007)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.30, no.3, pp.211-220, 1980

被引用文献数

2

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The food habits of chipmunks were studied by feeding observations in an oak forest for six years. In 1711 sightings of feeding, 41 plants and 16 animals (mostly insects) were identified. Various portions of the plants (seeds, fruits, buds, leaves, flowers and sap) were utilized in different seasons. Acorns were consumed in as many as 21 percent of the total number of sightings. Crown foraging for cherry seeds and elm samaras was common in early summer, and in late summer the chipmunks frequented crop fields for wheat. The number of available food items decreased markedly in autumn, although many acorns were consumed and hoarded during this period. Scattered and nest hoards were actively made in autumn, but the former was not consumed during winter. The overwintered acorns in the scattered hoards and fresh vegetables were heavily utilized in spring. Significantly, the fluctuation of acorn production affected the reproduction of chipmunks in the following year. Thus, the active, scattered hoarding activities in autumn appear to have an important function in the spring life of chipmunks.