Cache pilfering risks vary with seed species and pilferers

Cache pilfering is a pervasive phenomenon among seed-hoarding rodent species; nonetheless, the influence of seed species and pilferer identity on cache pilfering risk at the community level remains underexplored. In this study, we investigated the cache pilfering risk faced by Leopoldamys edwardsi, a scatter-hoarding rodent, as well as the subsequent fates of pilfered seeds mediated by sympatric rodent species within the community context. Our findings revealed that the cache pilfering risk posed by sympatric rodent species varied significantly, with scatter-hoarding pilferers being primarily responsible for most cache losses. Moreover, seed species exerted a substantial impact on the cache pilfering risk imposed by these pilferers. Notably, we discovered that scatter-hoarding pilferers selectively re-cached pilfered seeds based on seed species, a process that is anticipated to play a pivotal role in secondary seed dispersal and, consequently, plant regeneration.