In Madagascar, native rodents such as Nesomys rufus (red forest rat) are known to interact with seeds, often caching them in burrows (Goodman & Sterling, 1996; Razafindratsima, 2017). However, their effectiveness as seed dispersers remains poorly understood. This gap in knowledge is particularly important for plant species with large seeds, such as those in the genus Canarium (length: 4 cm; width: 2 cm), which are typically dispersed by a few large frugivores (Godfrey et al., 2008; Fiderman et al., 2016). Our recent observations using camera traps have documented N. rufus interacting with Canarium seeds on the forest floor, but their actual role in dispersal and seed fate is still unclear (Tonos et al., 2024).

This project aims to investigate how N. rufus contributes to the survival of Canarium spp., a threatened and long-lived tree genus, through scatter-hoarding. Specifically, it will: : (1) analyse the rodents’ foraging and movement patterns, home range, and hoarding strategies; (2) observe seed-handling behaviours in natural settings; and (3) assess the fate of seeds, including germination potential and the quality of deposition sites. To achieve these goals, the study will combine field data on rodent behaviour and movement, direct observations of seed interactions, and seed fate experiments. The findings will help clarify the ecological role of small rodents in Madagascar’s forests and inform conservation strategies for both plant and animal species.