The composition of the rodent community and the reproductive characte ristics of the large field mouse Apodemus peninsulae were studied in the Quercus liaotungensis forest of the Dongling Mountains from May to Octo ber 2000. 1 297 traps were set and 107 rodents were captured. The capture ra te was 0 0 82. The rodent community in this area was comprised of 5 species:89 Apodemu s peninsulae, 11 Rattus niviventer, 5 Apodemus agrarius, 1 Clethrionomys ru focanus and Eutamias sibiricus respectively. The community belongs to the warm forest forest grassland farm animal group. Apodemus peninsulae was the dominant specie s and breeds from April to October. The female may reproduce 1-3 times per yea r. The sex ratio (F M) of Apodemus peninsulae was 0 935. Adult group Ⅱ fe males ha d the highest pregnancy rate (76 92%) with the senile group second (70%). The t o tal index of reproduction was 3 36, and the mean litter size was 5 88±1 03. Th e senile group had both the highest index of reproduction (4 50) and mean litte r size (6 43±0 98) among all age groups. The average testicular weight was 1 0 6±0 45 g. Some significant differences were found in testicular weight, leng t h and width between the two adult groups ( P <0 05). Our results indicate tha t Apodemus peninsulae has a high reproductive ability, and might have a sig nificant impact on the regeneration of Quercus liaotungensis .
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