How does the 120-year cycle mast seeding of dwarf bamboo affect the rodent population?

Abstract Background In 2017, large-scale flowering, seeding, and dying events of dwarf bamboo ( Sasa borealis ) occurred in a wide range central Japan for the first time 120 years. This phenomenon S. , like mast seeding trees, could be expected to provide large amount food seed-eating rodents gradually affect their ecology population dynamics. We captured survey plots secondary broad-leaved forest with from 2018 2019 investigate species, number individuals, growing stage, sex, body mass. addition, we also compared capture data 2 years (2018–2019) that year (2017) 6 before it (2011–2016). Results The greatly increased size rodents, especially Apodemus speciosus A. argenteus . Conversely, Eothenomys smithii did not show such an increase. Most rodent individuals were already adults at new capture, proportion male juveniles was extremely low. These results suggest created unusually rich availability concentration due immigration. However, mass significantly different after seeding. populations two species decline masting, contrary previously reported decrease tree masting. Conclusions Our indicate affected dynamics over long individual composition growth stages.