Abstract
Behaviors of a Japanese field mouse, Apodemus speciosus, toward acorns of four Fagaceae species, Quercus serrata, Q. acutissima, Q. myrsinaejolia and Castanopisis cuspidate, were examined. Particularly, the mouse's acorn hoarding behavior was observed. The experiment was performed in a naturalistic indoor room where we could judge how the mouse dealt with acorns. The responses by the mice to acorns of four species were different. The mice hoarded more Q. serrata and Q. acutissima acorns underground than Q. myrsinaefolia and Castanopisis acorns. They ate Q. myrsinaefolia acorns most. The results suggest the possibility that the four Fagaceae species adopted different evolutional strategies about utilization of the mice.
