Rodents are the main wildlife species in the Dongting Lake area and can even cause significant biological disasters. In order to investigate the relationship between rodent communities and vegetation, the relationship between rodent population characteristics and vegetation cover between 2000 and 2020 was analyzed. The results showed that the rodent community in Dongting Lake has obvious spatial and temporal variability, and that Microtus fortis and Apodemus agrarius are currently the main rodent species in the area, with a higher population density in eastern Dongting Lake. Meanwhile, rodent fatness varied significantly between seasons, with the highest rodent fatness in winter at most survey sites. There was also significant spatial and temporal variability in vegetation cover, and the overall trend was increasing. There was a significant relationship between vegetation cover and rodent population density and fatness, and the relationship varied by rodent species. Microtus fortis population density was significantly correlated with medium to high levels of vegetation cover, but fatness was significantly correlated with low to medium levels of vegetation cover. The relationship between population density, fatness, and vegetation cover of A. agrarius is opposite to that of M. fortis. The study confirms that M. fortis is still the main pest rodent species in the Dongting Lake area, but the monitoring of A. agrarius and vegetation cover should be strengthened.

Diet significantly influences gut microbiota composition. Grazing activities alter local vegetation communities, which in turn are related to changes in the availability of food resources for wildlife. However, the relationships between grazing and the dietary diversity and gut microbiota in subterranean rodents remain poorly understood. Using the plateau zokor ( Eospalax baileyi ) as a model species, chloroplast trnL and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were employed to characterize dietary composition and gastrointestinal microbial communities in zokors from grazing and non‐grazing (control) areas. The analysis revealed significant differences in dietary diversity and composition of zokors between grazing and non‐grazing areas. Meanwhile, the gastrointestinal microbial community diversity differed significantly between groups. Beneficial microbes (e.g., Lachnospiraceae and Christensenellaceae) showed higher abundance in the control group, while pathogenic Proteobacteria were enriched in the grazing groups. Notably, the complexity of stomach microbial co‐occurrence networks increased in the grazing group, and functional differentiation of the gastrointestinal microbiota was observed between the control and grazing groups. Community assembly analysis displayed that stochastic processes dominated the assembly of stomach and gut microbiota, though these processes diminished in the grazing group, where divergent ecological processes emerged. Furthermore, we identified robust associations between zokor diets and stomach/gut microbiota, with specific microbial taxa significantly correlated with particular plants. Collectively, these findings highlight that grazing is associated with dietary changes and gut microbiota shifts in subterranean rodents, thereby advancing our understanding of the ecological impacts of grazing on terrestrial ecosystems.

Chinese pine has been extensively planted in the Loess Plateau, but it faces significant threats from Gansu zokor. Traditional methods for monitoring rodent damage rely on manual surveys to assess damage rates but are time-consuming and often underestimate the actual degree of damage, particularly in mildly affected pines. This study proposes a remote sensing monitoring method that integrates hyperspectral analysis with physiological and biochemical parameter models to enhance the accuracy of rodent damage detection. Using ASD Field Spec 4, we analyzed spectral data from 125 Chinese pine needles, measuring chlorophyll (CHC), carotenoid (CAC), and water content (WAC). Through correlation analysis, we identified sensitive vegetation indices (VIs) and red-edge parameters (REPs) linked to different levels of damage. We report several key results. The 680 nm spectral band is instrumental in monitoring damage, with significant decreases in CHC, CAC, and WAC corresponding to increased damage severity. We identified six VIs and five REPs, which were later predicted using stepwise regression (SR), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF) models. Among all models, the vegetation index-based RF model exhibited the best predictive performance, achieving coefficient of determination (R²) values of 0.988, 0.949, and 0.999 for CHC, CAC, and WAC, with root mean square errors (RMSEs) of 0.115 mg/g, 0.042 mg/g, and 0.007 mg/g, and mean relative errors (MREs) of 8.413%, 9.169%, and 1.678%. This study demonstrates the potential of hyperspectral remote sensing technology for monitoring rodent infestations in Chinese pines, providing a reliable basis for large-scale assessments and effective management strategies for pest control.

Several rodent species are considered global pests owing to their broad dietary habits, with stable gut microbiota enterotypes playing a vital role in host digestion. This study examined the Gansu zokor, a subterranean pest rodent endemic to the Loess Plateau. By extensive sampling across seasons and habitats, we characterized the gut microbiota enterotypes and clarified the mechanisms underlying their adaptation to diverse dietary resources. The gut microbiota of the Gansu zokor was categorized into two distinct enterotypes (E1 and E2), whose distribution varied markedly by season and habitat. The α and β diversity differed notably between the two enterotypes. Although Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes) and Bacteroidota dominated both enterotypes, the Bacillota/Bacteroidota ratio was markedly higher in E2, and this higher ratio was correlated with greater host body weight and BMI. Probiotic biomarkers such as Muribaculum and Alistipes were enriched in E1, whereas E2 was enriched in the Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group , Butyribacter , and Roseburia . Potential pathogens such as Bordetella , Acinetobacter , and Desulfovibrio also serve as key biomarkers. E1 was enriched with genes involved in lipid metabolism, transport, and catabolism, while E2 was characterized by genes related to terpenoid and polyketide metabolism. Co‐occurrence networks revealed more interconnected interactions in E1, but higher modularity in E2. Stochastic processes (e.g., drift) governed microbial assembly in E1, whereas deterministic processes (e.g., homogeneous selection) dominated in E2. Enterotype stratification was closely correlated with host body size parameters and microbial α diversity. Research identifies two distinct enterotypes of zokors, clarifying their traits and links to food resource utilization. These findings illuminate the ecological adaptations of subterranean rodents and offer a theoretical basis for developing microbe‐based pest control strategies.

The Dongting Lake wetland is an important habitat for rodents. In order to understand the structural characteristics of rodent communities and the effect of groundwater level on them, this study explored the changes in rodent community structure in four different habitats (Carex, Reeds, Carex + Reeds, and Poplar) from 2003 to 2023. Meanwhile, the relationships between groundwater level, nutrient composition of Carex brevicuspis, and structural characteristics of rodent communities were analyzed. The results showed that the advantages of rodent species in the four different habitats are different, and the community structure of rodents has undergone significant changes in recent years. A significant correlation between groundwater level and the nutrient composition of C. brevicuspis was found. Further analysis shows a significant correlation between the nutritional components of C. brevicuspis and the population structure of rodents. Crude protein, total phosphorus, and dry matter were three key plant nutrient indicators that were significantly correlated with both capture rate and the community diversity index (p < 0.05). Total phosphorus and crude protein were significantly negatively correlated with capture rate and Simpson’s index (p < 0.05), but significantly positively correlated with Pielou’s index and Shannon–Wiener’s index (p < 0.05), while the dry matter was completely opposite. The research conclusions suggest that different habitats and groundwater levels affect different characteristics of rodent community structures, and that plant nutrients are likely to be the mediator.

Dongting Lake is a biodiversity hotspot and an important food production base. Small mammals in the area are mainly rodents, which not only pose a threat to food security but also to human health. Alexandromys fortis and Apodemus agrarius are the main rodents in the area. Previously, their habitats were relatively separated, but in recent years, with changes in environmental conditions, they have invaded each other. In order to achieve effective management of rodents in Dongting Lake, long-term monitoring of land use types and rodent communities was conducted for 20 years. The results showed that the construction land continued to increase, and the arable land and forest land remained stable. During this period, there was no significant relationship between the density of A. fortis and A. agrarius and the area of different land use types, but the fatness of A. fortis was significantly correlated with water body area and construction land area. The research suggests that fatness is more suitable and sensitive than population density during the rodent monitoring.