野生動物對森林的危害很少被報導，因為林業研究人員較少關注動物與育林作業的交互作用議題。於2008年在臺灣南部恆春西海岸建立的石珠海岸復舊林，在2012年5月又新植11種樹苗。本研究發現栽植1年5個月後，在該復舊林林緣草原區部分樹種的小苗被鼠類唷咬嚴重，存活率低，而栽植在林內大多數樹苗則少被動物危害。計算各樹種在森林內與林緣草原區樹苗成活率的差異指數，得知成活率差異最大的樹種為武威山批杷、山欖、稜果榕及鐵色，新植樹苗在林緣草原區的成活率都低於20%；成活率差異次大的樹種為恆春厚殼樹、檄樹及水黃皮；成活率差異最小的樹種為紅柴、海檬果、茄冬及瓊崖海棠，後兩樹種在林緣草原區的成活率反而比在森林內高。在動物危害率方面，武威山批杷及山欖的總危害率分別高達83及79%，其餘9種樹種遭野生動物危害程度較低。各樹種新植樹苗在森林內外成活率差異指數，與遭動物環狀剝皮之中度危害的比例具顯著負相關，而與中等耐陰且陽性樹種共10種，遭動物啃咬後重新萌藥比例具顯著正相關。此結果顯示林緣草原區野生動物啃咬危害，是造成部分樹種樹苗成活率低的重要原因，且較能忍受啃咬逆境的樹種也會有較大的成活率。因此在生態復舊作業規劃時，應考慮動植物間的交互作用，選用不易遭野生動物危害，或本身具抵抗動物啃咬逆境能力的樹種。
Wildlife impacts on forest have been rarely reported. Forestry academics offer little research on biological interactions between animal damage and restored saplings. This research aims to assess the interaction between rodents and saplings in Hengchun coastal reforestation. Empirical evidence in this tropical region examines that rodents serve as a forest resource and a forest hazard with their seasonal activities. In 2008, a restoration project was initiated and built up a core forest in the southernmost tropical forest of Hengchun Peninsula. Beginning in May of 2012, eleven local tree species were selectively replanted in both interior and edge of the core forest. Seventeen months after, researchers observed serious adverse effects from rodents browsing on the newly-planted seedlings along the edge of the reforestation area. In contrast, little damage was found in the interior forest. This study further surveyed the percentage of damaged and re-sprouting seedlings in both interior and edge of the study site. The tree species, Eriobotrya deflexa, Planchonella obovata, Ficus septica, and Drypetes littoralis, were found lower survival rates along the forest edge and each of them had less than 20% survival rate by 2013. The high damage rates of rodents browsing along the edge were Eriobotrya deflexa and Planchonella obovata (83% and 79% respectively). The other 9 species were found less damaged by wildlife. In the forest edge, there are significant correlations between the death rate and circular skinning, as between the survival rate and re-sprouting capacity of trees. The results indicate that rodent pressure on seedlings leads to the failure of reforestation. In addition, the stress tolerance among various species of restored trees, along with the re-sprouting rate, affect saplings’ survival rate. Considering ecological recovery program in Taiwan, this study suggests further examination of resident herbivores and their effects upon seedling survival, as well as an evaluation of tree species stress tolerances that benefits reforestation success rates.
