Digestive System Specialization in the Stripped Field Mouse and the Korean Field Mouse and Its Role in Their Trophic Competition

The role of interspecific competition in biotic communities remains understudied. This paper examines transformations in the Korean field mouse/stripped field mouse taxocene, including the expansion of the stripped field mouse distribution range amid global environmental change. The main goal of this study was to perform a comparative assessment of the length of main intestinal segments in the Korean field mouse and the stripped field mouse with respect to the competitive asymmetry of these species and analyze the role of this asymmetry in the dynamics of their taxocene. Korean field mouse intestine significantly more efficiently assimilates the carbohydrates prevailing in plant tissues when compared to stripped field mouse intestine, while there is not much difference between them in protein and lipid assimilation. We conclude that, the Korean field mouse is a stronger trophic competitor in the taxocene, and competition plays an important role in its transformation. However, the expansion of the stripped field mouse range cannot be solely attributed to competition or global environmental change. This paper discusses the mechanism determining the interaction between these factors resulting in transformations in the Korean field mouse/stripped field mouse taxocene.