Temporal variation in rodent pressure on beech and fir seeds in Carpathian natural beech forests

Beech and fir seed predation by rodents were studied in natural beech forests in the Babia Góra and Ojców National Parks. Studies were carried out in the mast and non−mast years. Similar to seed quantity available at the forest floor, rodent density was considered an important parameter in assessing predation of seeds by these small mammals. The quantity of collected seeds from experimental plots was the measure of rodent pressure on seeds. In addition, information about changing seed density on experimental plots over time was used to assess the pressure on beech seeds by rodents. Specification of these data allowed to determine the intensity of seed predation by rodents depending on seed quantity