ABSTRACT

Hare pellets contribute greatly to the seed dispersal of a berry-producing shrub, Gaultheria miqueliana Takeda (Ericaceae), on Mount Koma, northern Japan. Numerous seeds of G. miqueliana germinated from the hare pellets (122.2 ± 7.3/pellet, mean ± SE), confirming that the pellets potentially had a role in the seed dispersal. Lab-experiments confirmed that the seeds of G. miqueliana needed light for full germination without cold stratification. Besides, hare pellets were collected from a post-mined peatland in Sarobetsu Mire, northern Japan, where G. miqueliana was not distributed but two berry-producing ericaceous species were distributed. No seeds germinated on the pellets collected from the Mire. These results suggested that the tight relationships between hare and berry-producing shrubs were species-specific.

摘要

野兔颗粒极大地促进了浆果的灌木在日本北部高马山的浆果灌木Gaultheria miqueliana Takeda（Ericaceae）的种子传播。野兔药丸发芽的无核小球藻种子众多（122.2±7.3 /粒，均值±SE），证实这些药丸可能在种子传播中起作用。实验室实验证实，密克罗非鱼的种子需要光才能完全发芽，而无需冷分层。此外，从日本北部的Sarobetsu Mire的一个采空后的泥炭地收集了野兔颗粒，那里有G. miqueliana没有分布，但分布了两个产浆果的冰科物种。从泥潭收集的颗粒上没有发芽的种子。这些结果表明，野兔和产浆果的灌木之间的紧密关系是特定物种的。