These small mammals fulfill several important functions in forest ecosystems. Their activities harvesting and hoarding tree seeds play a crucial role in seedling establishment. They consume many different kinds of fungi, including those involved in symbiotic mycorrhizal associations with trees, and are a vector for dispersal of the spores of subterranean sporocarps (truffles) in some regions.
These small mammals fulfill several im.portant functions in forest ecosystems. Their activities harvesting and hoarding tree seeds play a cru,cial role in s!eedling establishment. They consume many different kinds of fungi, including those involved in symbiotic mycorrhizal associations with trees, and .are a vector for dispersal of the spores of subterranean sporocarps (truffles) in some regions.