INFLUENCE OF RODENTS ON REFORESTATION IN THE MOUNTAIN REGIONS NEAR BEIJING

From 1993 until 1995, the influence of rodents on reforestation in the mountain regions near Beijing was studied in order to estimate the pr essure of rodents on the seed supply, search for effective ways to dec rease the loss of seeds due to consumption by rodents, and increase se ed germinating power. It was shown that acorns, apricot pits and nuts are almost entirely carried away from the soil surface by rodents, thu s suggesting that rodents have a great impact on the seed supply. When the seeds were sowed at a depth of about 5 cm, many of them were not eaten by rodents; 39% of acorns and 18% of apricot pits germinated on the following year. We propose that deep sowing of seeds may effective ly decrease the loss of seeds through consumption by rodents.