Data from: Cascading effects of apex predator recovery on rodent foraging activity and seed predation

This dataset was collected to examine the effects of apex predator presence on post-dispersal seed predation and rodent foraging behavior in Mediterranean ecosystems of southern Spain. The study focused on the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) as a top predator capable of altering mesopredator and small mammal communities through cascading interactions. We used the fleshy-fruited tree Pyrus bourgaeana as a model species and conducted a seed predation experiment in two areas with and without lynx presence. A total of 1152 seeds were placed in 144 seed depots across forest and open habitats and three microhabitat types (rock, shrub, and open ground). Rodent activity and foraging behavior were monitored using 36 camera traps installed at a subset of seed depots, and rodent abundance was estimated with live trapping one week later. The dataset includes seed predation counts, camera-trap records of rodent visits, live-trapping results, and vegetation cover estimates. These data allow investigation of how predation risk and habitat structure influence rodent activity and post-dispersal seed predation dynamics in Mediterranean landscapes.

本数据集采集自西班牙南部地中海生态系统，旨在探究顶级捕食者存在对扩散后种子捕食以及啮齿动物觅食行为的影响。本研究以伊比利亚猞猁（Iberian lynx, *Lynx pardinus*）作为目标顶级捕食者，该物种可通过级联交互效应调控中捕食者与小型哺乳动物群落结构。我们选取肉果树种Pyrus bourgaeana作为模式物种，在存在猞猁与不存在猞猁的两个区域开展种子捕食实验。共计在森林与开阔生境，以及岩石、灌丛、开阔地面三种微生境类型的144个种子存放点中放置1152粒种子。通过部署于部分种子存放点的36台相机陷阱（camera trap）监测啮齿动物活动与觅食行为，并于一周后通过活捕法估算啮齿动物种群丰度。本数据集涵盖种子捕食计数、啮齿动物到访的相机陷阱记录、活捕结果以及植被覆盖度估算数据。上述数据可用于探究捕食风险与生境结构如何影响地中海景观中的啮齿动物活动与扩散后种子捕食动态。