Chemical components of hardwood barks stripped by the alien squirrel <i>Callosciurus erythraeus</i> in Japan

Tamura, Noriko; Ohara, Seiji

doi:10.1007/s10310-005-0162-y

Cited by 20 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Hence, any preferences for higher carbohydrate levels in consumed bark previously reported (e.g. Faber 1996, Reynolds et al 1998, Tamura & Ohara 2005 should be interpreted cautiously since when measured at the time of stripping, the chemical composition of the bark may not differ between stripped and nonstripped beeches. Several previous studies (Randveer & Heikkila¨1996, Tamura & Ohara 2005, Kuiters et al 2006) also failed to identify any specificity in the composition of bark stripped trees, comparing trees within or among species (but see Welch et al 1997 for a selection of Sitka spruce by deer according to stem girth).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Factors Affecting Beech Fagus sylvatica Bark Stripping by Red Deer Cervus elaphus in a Mixed Forest

et al. 2009

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Bark stripping by large herbivores is widespread, yet poorly understood. Our study was carried out in a 2000‐ha area situated in the Vosges Mountains, France, where beech Fagus sylvatica bark is heavily bark stripped by red deer Cervus elaphus. We tested whether the seasonal variation in the frequency of beech bark stripping by red deer was correlated with bark nutritive value or bark mechanical properties (using an index of bark detachability). We also evaluated whether red deer selected beech trees based on the chemical composition of their bark (e.g. carbohydrates and minerals). Bark‐stripped trees had slightly higher carbohydrate contents than non‐stripped trees, but this difference resulted from a physiological reaction of the tree to bark stripping. Bark composition was similar between stripped and non‐stripped trees spring and summer, but was easier to detach during these periods than during autumn and winter. Therefore, beech bark stripping by red deer in the Vosges Mountains does not appear to be driven by nutritional needs, but it may help deer in improving digestion efficiency.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Factors Affecting Beech Fagus sylvatica Bark Stripping by Red Deer Cervus elaphus in a Mixed Forest

et al. 2009

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“…Myosciurus pumilio feed continuously on scrapings from the surface of chips pulled from the outer barks of large trees (Emmons, 1980). Similarly, C. erythraeus is known to frequently debark trees to feed on sap, occasionally causing severe damage to forests (Kuo, 1985;Sonoda et al, 2001;Tamura & Ohara, 2005;Hori, Yamada & Tsunoda, 2006). Because the anterior deep masseter is an important contributor to the power stroke of incision (Druzinsky, 1995), we suggest that the leverage increase of the anterior masseter provides an advantage for C. erythraeus to forcefully bite into bark with its anterior dentition.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…For example, C. erythraeus frequently forages on the hard seeds of Pinus, Camellia and Castanopsis trees (Chou et al, 1985;Sonoda et al, 2001;Lu, 2003;Men et al, 2007). Callosciurus erythraeus also occasionally strips tough bark with the incisors to acquire sugar from sweet tree saps (Tamura & Ohara, 2005), whereas this behavior seems to be rare or not so important in the sympatric D. rufigenis (Medway, 1969;Nowak, 1999;Smith & Xie, 2008). Although seeds are a high-quality food providing a rich source of carbohydrate and protein (Waterman & Kool, 1994), they are often protected by hard shells composed of highly dense cell walls, which make them mechanically resistant against fracture (Lucas et al, 2000;Lucas, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Craniodental mechanics and the feeding ecology of two sympatric callosciurine squirrels in Vietnam

et al. 2009

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This study explores the relationship between feeding habit and craniodental morphology in two closely related sympatric callosciurine squirrels in south-east Asia: Callosciurus erythraeus and Dremomys rufigenis. Both C. erythraeus and D. rufigenis prefer fruits and insects, as generally seen in other tree squirrels. However, C. erythraeus also feeds extensively on hard seeds and tough tree bark, which are rarely included in the diet of D. rufigenis. We tested the hypothesis that C. erythraeus shows structural features in craniodental morphology that provide an advantage for feeding on hard seeds and tough tree bark. Results show that C. erythraeus possesses a greater mechanical advantage of the masseter and temporalis muscles for chewing, and a more robust zygomatic arch, compared with D. rufigenis. Callosciurus erythraeus is capable of generating a greater bite force at a given muscle force at the cheek teeth and its zygomatic arch is more resistant against the stresses generated by the masseter muscle, suggesting adaptation for feeding on hard seeds. Callosciurus erythraeus also exhibits greater leverage of the masseter and temporalis for incision and has a wider skull at the interorbital region, suggesting the capability for efficiently generating a greater bite force and a greater mechanical resistance to increased loads when biting into wood with its anterior dentition. Our findings indicate that the craniodental divergence between C. erythraeus and D. rufigenis may be linked functionally to the differences in their diets. We suggest that their morphological divergence may correlate with their dietary differences and contribute to the sympatric distribution of these closely related squirrels.

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“…Gill (1992a, b) reviewed damage by deer, squirrels, rabbits, hares, voles, and edible dormice in north temperate forests. Studies of damage by mammals have included studies of economic damage to forest plantations (Akashi and Terazawa 2005), forest ecosystems (Vehviläinen and Koricheva 2006), and chemical defense against mammalian browsing (Bryant et al 1989;Tamura and Ohara 2005), etc.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characteristics of tree damage by the grey red-backed vole (Myodes rufocanus bedfordiae) in a deciduous forest in Hokkaido, Japan

Unno

Nakata

2010

Journal of Forest Research

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In deciduous forests, tree seeds and seedlings are frequently exposed to high predation by small rodents, and this predation can have an important effect on forest regeneration. However, damage to large trees by small rodents has not been studied, except for damage observed during timber production. To determine factors affecting damage to large trees by the grey red-backed vole (Myodes rufocanus bedfordiae), the characteristics and spatial patterns of tree damage by voles at vole wintering sites were examined over 3 years in a deciduous forest in Hokkaido. This study found that the location of damaged trees was related to vole wintering sites. Vole damage was affected by tree species. Damaged trees were heavily concentrated in small areas. Leaning trees and trees that had suffered previous damage were more likely to be damaged. However, the diameter at breast height was not significantly related to vole damage. These differences in susceptibility to vole damage may result in different tree mortality.

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Chemical components of hardwood barks stripped by the alien squirrel Callosciurus erythraeus in Japan

Cited by 20 publications

References 15 publications

Factors Affecting Beech Fagus sylvatica Bark Stripping by Red Deer Cervus elaphus in a Mixed Forest

Factors Affecting Beech Fagus sylvatica Bark Stripping by Red Deer Cervus elaphus in a Mixed Forest

Craniodental mechanics and the feeding ecology of two sympatric callosciurine squirrels in Vietnam

Characteristics of tree damage by the grey red-backed vole (Myodes rufocanus bedfordiae) in a deciduous forest in Hokkaido, Japan

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