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<p>The objective of this study was to investigate the sensory interplay between apple trees (<i>Malus </i>spp.) and the Central Kashmir vole (<i>Alticola montosa</i>) across various altitudes in the Kashmir Himalayas, focusing on how environmental factors influence vole behavior and their impact on apple orchard ecosystem. Field surveys were conducted in valley and hilly apple orchards during 2023–2024, examining vole activity, burrow complexity, and the health of apple trees under different microclimatic conditions. The results indicate that vole behavior is modulated by the eco-sensory system, which adapts to environmental cues such as water availability and altitude, influencing both positive and negative interactions between voles and apple trees. Altitude and water availability were found to significantly influence vole behavior and its effects on orchards. In water-rich valley orchards, voles built less complex burrows, leading to reduced root damage in apple trees. In hilly orchards, complex vole burrows improved soil aeration while simultaneously elevating the risk of root damage, especially in winter when alternative food sources were limited. The presence of <i>Iris kashmiriana</i> was linked to decreased vole-induced damage, highlighting its function as a&#xa0;natural rodent repellent. The presence of <i>Iris kashmiriana</i> in apple orchards was found to mitigate the effect of disturbances such as vole-induced root damage through the release of natural rodenticides, highlighting its role in maintaining diversity and stability of orchard ecosystems. The study underscores the critical role of the eco-sensory system in regulating ecosystem stability via sensory species and suggests that preserving natural components such as <i>Iris kashmiriana</i> can enhance the resilience of apple orchards to environmental disturbances.</p>

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Sensory Ecology and Ecosystem Stability: Vole–Apple Tree Interactions Across Altitudinal Gradients in Kashmir

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月4日

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  • Irshad Ramzan Dar,
  • Shabir Ahmad Bhat,
  • Tariq Basher Rather,
  • Muhibullah Lone,
  • Marifa Gulzar,
  • Zaffar Mehdi,
  • Waseem Raja,
  • Mehdi Rahimi

摘要

The objective of this study was to investigate the sensory interplay between apple trees (Malus spp.) and the Central Kashmir vole (Alticola montosa) across various altitudes in the Kashmir Himalayas, focusing on how environmental factors influence vole behavior and their impact on apple orchard ecosystem. Field surveys were conducted in valley and hilly apple orchards during 2023–2024, examining vole activity, burrow complexity, and the health of apple trees under different microclimatic conditions. The results indicate that vole behavior is modulated by the eco-sensory system, which adapts to environmental cues such as water availability and altitude, influencing both positive and negative interactions between voles and apple trees. Altitude and water availability were found to significantly influence vole behavior and its effects on orchards. In water-rich valley orchards, voles built less complex burrows, leading to reduced root damage in apple trees. In hilly orchards, complex vole burrows improved soil aeration while simultaneously elevating the risk of root damage, especially in winter when alternative food sources were limited. The presence of Iris kashmiriana was linked to decreased vole-induced damage, highlighting its function as a natural rodent repellent. The presence of Iris kashmiriana in apple orchards was found to mitigate the effect of disturbances such as vole-induced root damage through the release of natural rodenticides, highlighting its role in maintaining diversity and stability of orchard ecosystems. The study underscores the critical role of the eco-sensory system in regulating ecosystem stability via sensory species and suggests that preserving natural components such as Iris kashmiriana can enhance the resilience of apple orchards to environmental disturbances.