Density-dependent hoarding by rodents contributes to large variation in seed mass of the woodland herb Symplocarpus renifolius

We analyzed effects of seed-hoarding by rodents on the variation in seed mass and seed success for a perennial forest undergrowth plant — Symplocarpus renifolius Schott ex Miquel — in Hokkaido, northern Japan. Although density of rodents differed greatly between seasons, more rodents were always captured in mesic Sasa sp. patches with dense foliage than in wet Lysichiton sp. patches. In the season with fewer rodents, they cached seeds close to the original places irrespective of vegetation, while in the season with abundant rodents, they transported seeds further and cached seeds disproportionately in Lysichiton patches. Seeds missed by rodents were larger than seeds that were eaten or that survived. Sasa patches are more suitable for seedlings to establish and a size advantage was observed there, but even small seeds could establish in Lysichiton patches, although seedling success was lower. We concluded that maternal plants of Symplocarpus renifolius increase their reproductive success by having small to middle-sized seeds transported to suitable sites while offering larger seeds as rewards to the transporters. Since the variation in seed mass was not correlated with the biomass per seed of the maternal plant, the large variation in seed mass is considered to have evolved through the density-dependent hoarding by rodents.