Seed preference and buried seed retrieval of dipodomys deserti

Lockard, R.; Lockard, J.

The dependence of the desert kangaroo rat (Dipodomys deserti) upon metabolic water derived from the oxidation of carbohydrates could imply the ability to discriminate among seeds differing in percentage of carbohydrate and to preferentially harvest those high in carbohydrate. On the other hand, D. deserti is associated with the creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) as the principal seed-producer throughout most of its geographic range and may have evolved a less general discrimination ability. In an effort to gain some preliminary data on seed preference, 13 kinds of chemically untreated seeds were tested during the course of other field work on d. deserti 36 mi. SW Ajo, Arizona. When left overnight in 150-gram quantities in beakers in the vicinity of deserti burrows, all seeds of every kind were taken. A new location of six deserti burrows, approx. 700 m. away, was then used with greater seed quantities. Brown paper bags 2.5-5 kilograms of seed were arranged in a line bisecting the distance to two active mounds approximatley 8 m apart. Each bag was buried in soil up to the level of the seed; then the top of the bag was torn off at surface level to leave a flush surface. The seeds were left for two consectuive nights and were covered by flat materials and rocks during daylight. Circumstantial evidence suggested that the total l0,48l grams of seed removed was the work of deserti (presumably two) in the two nearest mounds-tracks led there. Amount taken was determined by weighing remaining seed.

Seed preference and buried seed retrieval of dipodomys deserti

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