POPULATION FLUCTUATIONS OF MAST-EATING RODENTS ARE CORRELATED WITH PRODUCTION OF ACORNS

I used a 14-year dataset on dynamics of mast-consuming rodents from an eastern deciduous forest to determine the relationship between popula tion fluctuations of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus), deer mic e (P. maniculatus), and eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) and produc tion of acorn mast. Mast (acorn) production was episodic with four exc ellent crops produced in 14 years. Densities of rodents in summer rang ed from 3 to 103 animals/ha and correlated positively with production of mast the previous autumn (all r(2) > 0.56). During years of high pr oduction of mast, stores of acorn lasted throughout winter, whereas in most years, acorns were gone by January. During years of high product ion of mast, mice bred all winter, which resulted in high densities th e following summer. Episodic production of mast and resulting fluctuat ions in consumers of mast have implications for the predator-satiation hypothesis and other community processes.