Abstract
Abstract In this study, we set out to determine the cascade effects of slope gradient on ground vegetation and small-rodent populations in a forest ecosystem. We focused on two forest-dwelling small rodents with different habitat requirements, the striped field mouse Apodemus agrarius (preferring dense ground vegetation) and the Korean field mouse A. peninsulae (dense forest and woodland). The study area comprised natural deciduous forests and Japanese larch Larix kaempferi plantations in South Korea. The abundance of A. agrarius but not that of A. peninsulae was related to slope gradient. There was a negative effect of slope gradient on ground vegetation coverage and a positive effect of ground vegetation on A. agrarius populations. Our results highlight that the population of A. agrarius was indirectly influenced by the negative effects of slope gradient on ground vegetation. Slope gradient can, therefore, be a limiting factor in the microhabitats occupied by small rodents. This study reveals a critical role for slope gradient since it can modify not only microhabitat conditions, but also small-rodent populations, and this finding can contribute to improved microhabitat management.
Highlights
Forests form complex ecosystems, in which biotic assemblages and physicochemical environments interact (Pickett & Cadenasso, 2002)
We demonstrated cascade effects caused by the direct influence of slope gradient on ground vegetation, which in turn affects A. agrarius populations
A. agrarius preferred microhabitats with dense ground vegetation; secondly, the negative effect of slope gradient on ground vegetation; and, slope gradient had a negative effect on A. agrarius abundance
Summary
Forests form complex ecosystems, in which biotic assemblages and physicochemical environments interact (Pickett & Cadenasso, 2002). A steep slope gradient facilitates soil erosion in conditions of heavy precipitation, with consequent negative effects on fine materials and soil nutrients in forest ecosystems (El Kateb et al, 2013; Sepúlveda & Carrillo, 2015). This process in turn negatively affects vegetation growth through changes to the soil water-holding capacity and soil nutrient content, such as nitrogen and phosphorus (Kapolka & Dollhopf, 2001; Jiao et al, 2009; Lou et al, 2016; Ma et al, 2016). The unfertilized condition of the soil on steep slopes makes it difficult for vegetation to grow or survive decreases in vegetation coverage with increasing slope gradient (Parsakhoo et al, 2009)
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