Effects of nest hoarding on foraging behavior of two species of Apodemus mice,A. speciosus and A. argenteus (Rodentia: Muridae)

Food hoarding is one of the determinant factors of foraging behavior and benefits the hoarder. Two species of Apodemus mice, A. speciosus Temminck and A. argenteus Temminck, hoard acorns for later use. In 1988 and 1989, I conducted laboratory experiments to reveal the effects of food hoarding in the nest on the foraging behavior of these mice. I released a mouse into an indoor arena (2.8 × 2.8m) and recorded the foraging behavior of four female A. speciosus and four female A. argenteus mice in sessions with and without food hoarding in the nest box. Nest hoarding did not affect the time that a mouse allotted to excursions or the number of peanuts that a mouse ate during the night, but decreased the number of peanuts handled and the intensity of food handling (the number of handled peanuts per visit) at the food stations. The decrease in food handling outside the nest box, which seemed to be beneficial to the survival and reproduction of the hoarder in the field, was more apparent in A. speciosus than in A. argenteus. The different behavioral responses in foraging behavior to nest hoarding between two Apodemus mice may be related to their different microhabitat preferences.     

Acorn hoarding by the field mouse,Apodemus speciosus Temminck (Rodentia: Muridae)

We studied population changes of the field mouse,Apodemus speciosus Temminck, by live trapping in a mixed stand of cypress and broad-leaved trees at Tama Forest Science Garden during the period from October 1991 to March 1994. We also used radiotelemetry to investigate acorn hoarding. The number of mice captured in 1992 was three to ten times higher than that in either 1991 or 1993. The home ranges of resident mice overlapped greatly, but a path and differences in the vegetation structure may have affected the home range of individuals. From June 1992 to April 1993, mice actively transported and hoarded acrons. Individuals hoarded 70% of the acorns in their home ranges within one day after release. This species was a typical scatter-hoarder and hoarded a single acorn at each cache site. Mice buried acrons in the soil at the first hoarding, but recovered and carried them into their nests later. Although more than 50% of the acorns were buried 0–5 cm deep, where the condition for germination seemed to be good, mice recovered and ate all cached acorns. Mice relocated acorns farther from the original food station as they repeated hoarding. Mice transported acorns an average of about 15–18 m (range: 2.2–49.8 m) before they ate them. From May 1993 to March 1994, the hoarding behavior of mice was not active. Most acorns were left at food stations or cache sites for more than three months. Acorn hoarding byA. speciosus probably contributes little to the dispersal and regeneration of acorn-producing trees in years with a high rodent density.     

Walnut hoarding by the Japanese wood mouse,Apodemus speciosus Temminck

Walnuts,Juglans ailantifolia Carriere, are large and the shell is difficult to open. Thus, seed predators in Japan are restricted mainly to the Japanese squirrel (Sciurus lis Temminck) and the wood mouse (Apodemus speciosus Temminck), which can shave away the hard shells with their sharp incisors. Previous work indicated that the squirrels are not only predators, but also disperse walnuts. In this study, 95 walnuts in Period1 (September 1996–February 1997) and 80 walnuts in Period 2 (September 1999–February 2000) each attached to a miniature radio transmitter, were placed in a feeding box, and 93 and 53 of them were transported by free-living wood mice in the respective periods. Most of the walnuts provided from September to November were scatter-hoarded in the litter layer, while from December to February, the mice fed immediately and seldom scatter-hoarded on the ground surface. In all, 66 walnuts were hoarded and 80 were eaten soon after discovery, although walnuts were eaten more frequently in Period 1 than in Period 2, which may be related to annual differences in seed crop size in the study site. The mean transport distance of hoarded seeds was 6.2 ± 5.0 m (mean ± SD,n=66). The fate of hoarded walnuts was followed from September 1996 to May 1997; 21 (75%) of the scatter-hoarded walnuts were recovered, but 7 (25%) were left uneaten. Consequently, the Japanese wood mouse also plays a role in seed-dispersion of the walnut, but the transport distance for mice was shorter than that for squirrels.     

Microhabitat use of wood mice ranging from a reserved belt with evergreen broad-leaved trees to a coniferous plantation

Wood mice Apodemus speciosus and Apodemus argenteus are potentially important seed dispersers and predators of Quercus and Castanopsis in Japan. We investigated the existence of two species of wood mice in warm-temperate forests ranging from a reserved belt of evergreen broad-leaved trees to a coniferous plantation, and analyzed the relationship between wood mouse occurrence and environmental factors to confirm their microhabitat use. We used two-way analysis of variance to analyze differences in the captured number of each wood mouse species in two trapping seasons as well as two stand types to confirm the interaction between the stand type and trapping season. Apodemus speciosus were often captured in the reserved belt, while captures of A. argenteus were independent of season and stand types. It is reasonable to conclude from the results of the trends in occurrence that the two species of wood mice showed different uses of the microhabitat. The result of linear discriminant analysis made it clear that the distance from the reserved belt had much to do with the difference in microhabitat use between the two species in the fruiting season of Quercus and Castanopsis. On average, A. speciosus moved 19.9 m during nonfruiting and 61.3 m during fruiting, while A. argenteus moved 8.1 m during nonfruiting, and 29.0 m during fruiting from analysis of the recapture position. The results indicate that both species of mice move around during the fruiting season more than in the nonfruiting season.     

Deer-proof fence prevents regeneration of Picea jezoensis var. hondoensis through seed predation by increased woodmouse populations

The indirect consequence of sika deer (Cervus nippon) grazing on the regeneration of Picea jezoensis var. hondoensis through its effect on the small rodent population was assessed by evaluating seed predation by mice inside and outside the deer-proof fence on Mt Ohdaigahara, central Japan. Following construction of the deer-proof fence, Sasa nipponica, which covers the forest floor and is the main forage of deer, grew thicker inside the fence due to the absence of deer grazing than outside of the fence. Higher numbers of two species of woodmice (Apodemus speciosus and A. argenteus) were found inside the fence, possibly because the thick S. nipponica growth provides better cover. Inside the fence, more seeds of P. jezoensis var. hondoensis were eaten by the mice than outside the fence. These results suggest that the mouse populations inside the fence increased due to changes in S. nipponica cover, which subsequently increased seed predation by the mice, possibly preventing regeneration of P. jezoensis var. hondoensis.     

Fate of walnut seeds,Juglans airanthifolia,hoarded by Japanese squirrels,Sciurus lis

Walnut seeds (Juglans ailanthiforia Carr.) hoarded by Japanese squirrels (Sciurus lis Temminck) were tracked using miniature radio transmitters. A total of 100 seeds with transmitters were provided on the feeding stands in the walnut forest from September to December, 1992. Squirrels ate 35 seeds without hoarding, and 60 were scatter-hoarded. Five seeds were eaten by wood mice (Apodemus speciosus Temminck). The distance from the feeding stand to cache sites ranged from 1 to 62 m with the mean 18 m. Of 60 hoarded seeds, 38 were retrieved by squirrels later, but 15 were stolen by wood mice. After all, 7 seeds were not retrieved until May 1993.     

Regeneration of Styrax argenteus in natural forest and in plantations of Cupressus lindleyi in Michoacan, Mexico

We evaluated the density and population height structure of Styrax argenteus in natural pine–oak forest and in Cupressus lindleyi plantations in Michoacan, Mexico. We also evaluated whether populations of S. argenteus in pine–oak vegetation and in C. lindleyi plantations had a clumped distribution. Finally, we evaluated whether advanced regeneration of different species was higher under the crown of S. argenteus than around it. Density of S. argenteus was higher in pine–oak forest than under plantations, but density in plantations was high. The structure of populations of S. argenteus in pine–oak vegetation had more individuals with ≤ 0.5 and >2 m, while populations in plantations had more individuals in intermediate height categories. Both populations were clumped. Only one species, Rubus liebmannii had higher densities under S. argenteus, so that other species might also colonize C. lindleyi plantations as a consequence to their affinity to S. argenteus. Although S. argenteus and other native species were apparently establishing under C. lindleyi plantations, Pinus and Quercus, the dominant genera of this forest type, were not. Consequently other activities, like liberation thinning, might be required to re-establish natural vegetation under C. lindleyi plantations.

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Resumen Evaluamos la densidad y estructura poblacional en categorías de altura para Styrax argenteus en bosque natural de pino-encino y bajo plantaciones de Cupressus lindleyi en Michoacán, México. También evaluamos si las poblaciones de S. argenteus en bosque de pino-encino y bajo plantaciones de C. lindleyi tenían una distribución agregada. Finalmente, evaluamos si la regeneración avanzada de distintas especies era mayor bajo la copa de S. argenteus, que alrededor de ésta. La densidad de S. argenteus fue mayor bajo vegetación de pino-encino que bajo las plantaciones, pero la densidad en plantaciones también fue alta. La estructura poblacional de S. argenetus en vegetación de pino-encino tuvo más individuos ≤ 0.5 y >2 m, mientras que la población en plantaciones tuvo más individuos en categorías de altura intermedias. Solo una especie, Rubus liebmannii tuvo densidades mayores bajo la copa de S. argenteus que alrededor de la misma, por lo que esta especie podría estar también colonizando plantaciones de C. lindleyi como consecuencia de su afinidad con S. argenteus. Aunque S. argenteus y otras especies se establecieron aparentemente en plantaciones de C. lindleyi, no fue así para los géneros dominantes en este tipo de bosque, Pinus y Quercus. Consecuentemente otras actividades, como cortes de liberación, sean necesarias para re-establecer la vegetación natural bajo dichas plantaciones de C. lindleyi.

     

Artificial Nest Predation Dynamics Along a Forest Fragmentation Gradient: A Preliminary Analysis

Abstract

Studies in eastern North America suggest that nest predation on forest songbirds increases with habitat fragmentation. However, the majority of these studies have been conducted in highly fragmented suburban/rural deciduous forest habitat, making generalization of the results difficult. The objective of this study was to examine artificial nest predation dynamics along a fragmentation gradient (farm woodlots, logged forest stands and contiguous forest) in the conifer dominated Boreal Mixedwood. Predation was significantly higher in farm woodlots (78.8% edge and 78.5% interior) than the forest interior in contiguous and logged areas (42.8% and 41.9%, respectively). Predation at logged edges (60.0%) was not significantly different from either the woodlots or the forest interiors. All land-uses showed a variety of avian and mammalian predators. Using timer nests, we determined that predation was highest immediately after sunrise, with a second peak around sunset. Census results suggest that farm woodlots have significantly more red squirrels and a very different corvid community than forested areas. Overall, fragmentation due to agriculture seems to have a far greater impact on nest predation in the Boreal Forest than does logging and is in part, due to changes in the predator community. Further work is required to confirm the relative importance of nest predators in different land-uses. Clarification of the impact that logged edges have is also required.     

Dispersal of Quercus mongolica acorns in a broadleaved deciduous forest 2. Scatterhoarding by mice

Acorn transporting and hoarding, distribution, and utilization by mice of hoarded acorns were studied. Apodemus speciosus and A. argentus were observed to transport acorns. An individual A. speciosus observed scatterhoarded at least 49% of acorns transported. The rate of acorn utilization was higher in locations where two or more acorns were buried than where a single acorn was buried. Forty-seven percent of scatterhoarded acorns disappeared before snow cover and 99% before the next spring. Based on the extent of home ranges for mice, dispersal distance is presumed to be from 30 to 40 m.     

南京地区黑翅土白蚁饵料筛选与取食记忆研究

通过不同林分黑翅土白蚁采食工蚁的饵料筛选结果,分析白蚁取食经历对食物选择的影响。结果表明:来自不同林分的黑翅土白蚁喜食树种最佳为鹅掌楸树皮粉,其工蚁数量、泥被覆盖率和饵料被食率均较高,泥被出现时间在所有饵料中也相对较早。筛选出的辅食饵料最佳比例为15%小米粉和5%蔗糖,高糖分对黑翅土白蚁仅有短暂的诱食作用,一段时间后,高糖分诱食作用减退。白蚁采食工蚁存在取食记忆现象,取食记忆的持续时间与原取食材料在食物资源中的嗜食序列有关。若原取食材料属于食物选择试验中最嗜食物质,取食记忆可持续存在;否则,一定时间后发生食物选择的改变。试验筛选出最佳饵料配方为80%鹅掌楸树皮粉+15%小米粉+5%蔗糖,采食工蚁对不同树种树皮粉的取食选择可能与化学成分有关。     

Foraging behavior of pileated woodpeckers in partial cut and uncut bottomland hardwood forest

In bottomland hardwood forests, partial cutting techniques are increasingly advocated and used to create habitat for priority wildlife like Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and Neotropical migrants. Although partial cutting may be beneficial to some species, those that use dead wood may be negatively affected since large diameter and poor quality trees (deformed, moribund, or dead) are rare, but normally targeted for removal. On the other hand, partial cutting can create dead wood if logging slash is left on-site. We studied foraging behavior of pileated woodpeckers (Dryocopus pileatus) in one- and two-year-old partial cuts designed to benefit priority species and in uncut forest during winter, spring, and summer of 2006 and 2007 in Louisiana. Males and females did not differ in their use of tree species, dbh class, decay class, foraging height, use of foraging tactics or substrate types; however, males foraged on larger substrates than females. In both partial cut and uncut forest, standing live trees were most frequently used (83% compared to 14% for standing dead trees and 3% for coarse woody debris); however, dead trees were selected (i.e. used out of proportion to availability). Overcup oak (Quercus lyrata) and bitter pecan (Carya aquatica) were also selected and sugarberry (Celtis laevigata) avoided. Pileated woodpeckers selected trees ≥50 cm dbh and avoided trees in smaller dbh classes (10–20 cm). Density of selected foraging substrates was the same in partial cut and uncut forest. Of the foraging substrates, woodpeckers spent 54% of foraging time on live branches and boles, 37% on dead branches and boles, and 9% on vines. Of the foraging tactics, the highest proportion of foraging time was spent excavating (58%), followed by pecking (14%), gleaning (14%), scaling (7%), berry-eating (4%), and probing (3%). Woodpecker use of foraging tactics and substrates, and foraging height and substrate diameter did not differ between recent partial cut and uncut forest. Partial cutting designed to improve or maintain habitat for priority wildlife did not affect pileated woodpecker foraging behavior or availability of selected trees compared to uncut forest in the short term.     

A metabarcoding tool to detect predation of the honeybee Apis mellifera and other wild insects by the invasive Vespa velutina

The invasive Vespa velutina has been widely referred as an effective predator of honeybees. Despite the potential risk to pollination services provision and honey production, there is no accurate quantification and assessment of its real consequences for honeybees. To date, the identification of the honeybee and other insects in the diet of V. velutina has been investigated by direct observation of adult foraging or examination of food pellets. To overcome these limitations, in this study we used a DNA metabarcoding approach to evaluate the usefulness of different types of sample (jaws and stomachs collected from workers and larval faecal pellets taken from the hornet comb) to investigate the predation of V. velutina upon honeybees, and potentially on other insects. Honeybee DNA was identified in all types of samples, but larval faecal pellets retrieved the higher number of reads of honeybee DNA and the largest diversity at all taxonomic levels. Over all samples we could identify 4 orders, 9 families, 6 genera and 1 species of prey. We estimate that collecting 6 workers is sufficient to identify honeybee predation by a colony using worker’s jaws. Stomachs were the least useful sample type to detect honeybee DNA. The presence of honeybee DNA in all analysed colonies irrespective of collection site, and the variety of insect orders detected in the diet support current concerns over the acknowledged negative impact of V. velutina on managed honeybees and its potential threat to pollination services provision.

     

Secondary dispersal of Dioscorea japonica (Dioscoreaceae) bulbils by rodents

We examined rodent dispersal of Dioscorea japonica bulbils. Bulbils dispersed by rodents may travel farther from their parent plants than those dispersed by gravity alone. To confirm the presence of secondary dispersal and the types of vector, we used an automatic camera to photograph animals that approached bulbils. To clarify secondary dispersal distance, we set marked bulbils at eight sites and searched for the bulbils once they were removed from their original locations by a disperser. We took photographs of mice (Apodemus speciosus) approaching the bulbils. In June, 10 of 333 bulbils that were moved germinated. We also measured the primary dispersal distance at four sites by dropping bulbils from heights of 0.5, 3.0, and 12.0 m. We then compared primary and secondary dispersal distances. The mean secondary dispersal distance was significantly greater than the primary dispersal distance for dispersal heights of 0.5 and 3.0 m, but less than that for a 12.0-m dispersal height. This indicates that rodents may disperse bulbils farther than gravity alone when bulbils drop from lower heights but they contribute little to dispersal for bulbils that drop from greater heights (e.g., from the top of the canopy). Thus, we confirmed the occurrence of rodent dispersal of bulbils and rodents might to some extent contribute to the dispersal and establishment of bulbils.     

The use of repellents to reduce predation of tree seed by wood mice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Apodemus sylvaticus</Emphasis> L.) and grey squirrels (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sciurus carolinensis</Emphasis> Gmelin)

The loss of tree seed through predation by granivores can be a major cause of regeneration failure in direct seeding systems. Five repellents that were of low toxicity or derived from foodstuffs were investigated for their ability to deter feeding by wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus L.) and grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin). In experiments in controlled conditions, when given the option of feeding on unlimited amounts of untreated wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), or wheat treated with aluminium ammonium sulphate, sulphonated fish oil, denatonium benzoate, ziram or capsaicin, all the repellents tested initially deterred feeding, although in one experiment mice showed some habituation to the repellents after 4 weeks. Capsaicin was the most effective treatment, and aluminium ammonium sulphate the least effective, possibly because it did not stick to the wheat grains. When ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) seed were treated with combinations of aluminium ammonium sulphate, sulphonated fish oil or denatonium benzoate, compared to the freely available untreated seed, mice were deterred by any treatment containing aluminium ammonium sulphate, with effectiveness again declining after 4 weeks. When a mixture of broadleaved tree species were sown on farmland, coating seed with aluminium ammonium sulphate or sulphonated fish oil had no effect on seedling emergence. Capsaicin derived from chilli peppers (Capsicum sp.) showed the greatest potential as a repellent in our work, but no repellent product containing this active ingredient is currently approved for plant protection uses in the United Kingdom. Given its relatively low cost, the use of aluminium ammonium sulphate, a non-toxic repellent based on an approved food additive, which is available formulated as a registered plant protection product in the United Kingdom, may be worth considering for direct sowings where predation pressure from mice is predicted to be particularly high, or where tree species with very palatable seed are being used, to complement other predation mitigation strategies.     

Haselmaus (Muscardinus avellanarius L.) als vermutlicher Urheber von Stammringelungen bei der Weißtanne (Abies alba)

Ring — shaped damages at a stem of silver fir presumably caused by the dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius L. A report is given on ring-shaped damages at the stem of a silver fir, observed in summer of 1963 near Freilassing/Southern Bavaria. These rings consisted in several single deepenings and were cause in the highest degree by dormice,M. avellanarius. At the same stem near the damages there was a nest box of birds containing an nest of the dormouse. The next relations of this rodent, the Seven Sleeper(Glis glis) and the Garden Sleeper(Gliomys quercinus) are already known to be the originators of ring-shaped damages at tree stems.     

Behavioral response of Norway rats (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rattus norvegicus</Emphasis>) to odors of different mammalian species

Behavioral responses to the odors of three predators of rodents (domestic cat (Felis catus), weasel (Mustela sibirica), Eurasian badger (Meles meles)), one non-predator mammal (rabbit (Lepus capensis)), and distilled water (control) were assessed in three types of Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus): wild (WNRs), domestic (DNRs), and albino laboratory Wistar (AWRs). Rats were taken individually to a testing apparatus consisting of a hide box and a testing arena. The behavioral activities, including concealing, heading out, approaching, and feeding behaviors in each trial were videotaped for 3 h. Results revealed that WNRs, DNRs, and AWRs all showed an aversion to the predator odors by spending more time concealing in the hide box: frequencies of approaching and feeding behaviors, as well as the amount of food intake were significantly lower than control group. Our results suggest that the response of DNRs and AWRs were “built-in” or innate in nature as they had never experienced the odors of the tested predators. Moreover, all three types of rats can distinguish between predator and non-predator odors, but the ability of WNRs was the highest, which can distinguish between sympatric and allopatric predators, while the ability of AWRs was the lowest, which spent most time in the hide box. The concealing and approaching behaviors were no significantly different among the five odor exposure groups. Also, the reactions of the three types of rats toward the control group (distilled water) significantly differ. This suggests that the duration of time spent in captivity plays an important role in shaping the response of rats to different predator odors.     

A novel control strategy for dry-wood termite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Incisitermes minor</Emphasis> infestation using a bait system

Three types of experiments were designed to evaluate the performance of a bait system intended to control Incisitermes minor (Hagen). In the first type of experiment, Type I, the effectiveness of the bait in a small wood specimen was evaluated. In the second type, Type II, the bait effectiveness was evaluated in a larger wood specimen. Feeding arena lumber with artificial galleries was prepared for the Type III experiment so that the response of the insects to the gel could be observed. In general, the average percentage of termites that died after being exposed to the gel formulation in all three types of experiment was more than 60%, and in the gel control the average percentage of live termites was more than 95% in Types I and III, and more than 75% in Type II. These results suggest that the gel bait system used in this study has the potential to eliminate I. minor colonies. Further investigation will be necessary to increase the reliability of the bait system as a control measure against dry-wood termites.     

Comparative regeneration ecology of three leguminous timber species in a Bolivian tropical dry forest

A comparative study of the regeneration ecology ofthree lesser-known leguminous timber species wasconducted in the seasonally dry forests of SantaCruz, Bolivia to determine species regenerationstrategies and make silvicultural recommendationsfor these species. The study included arepresentative from each subfamily of Leguminosae:Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell. Conc.) Benth.(Mimosaceae), Copaifera chodatiana Kunth.(Caesalpinaceae), and Centrolobium microchaeteC. Martius (Fabaceae). After production in themid-late dry season, seeds of all species sufferedhigh (>30%) rates of predation. For seedssurviving predation, Anadenanthera germinatedwithin three days after the first rains and a highgermination capacity (82%), but most seedlings diedfrom inadequate light or during subsequent periodsof drought. Copaifera germinated more slowlybut had high germination capacity (85%). Centrolobium had very low germination capacity(4%) and germinative energy. Most successfulregeneration of Centrolobium occurred viasprouting from damaged roots on or near loggingroads where it had a density of 261 root sprouts/ha.Anadenanthera regenerated best from seedin areas with soil disturbance or burning. Theregeneration of these species will likely increaseunder more intensive logging and/or post-harvestcompetition control treatments in logging gaps. Themore shade-tolerant Copaifera is most suitedto the current regime of light selective logging,but all three species are likely to be responsive topost-harvest competition control treatments. Impacts of controlled and natural fire were mixed,but generally seedling regeneration and growth wereeither not significantly affected or were increasedby fire.     

Does streptobacillary arthritis reduce house mouse population density,activity and damage to sorghum crops?

An experiment to examine the effect of streptobacillary arthritis on mouse populations was conducted in maturing sorghum crops in mouse-proofed pens. There were three treatment pens and three control pens in which mice with and without clinical signs of streptobacillary arthritis were introduced, respectively. A constant mouse density (533 mice ha⁻¹) was introduced to the pens by releasing 12 mice in each pen. The sex ratio of introduced mice was also constant by releasing in each pen nine males and three females. Mean track index was lower in treatment pens than in control pens, indicating that streptobacillary arthritis reduced the activity of mice. However, this was not translated into a reduction in other population responses. Mean mouse density at harvest, percentage of female pregnant at harvest, yield loss caused by mice and a feeding index (oil card index) did not differ significantly between treatment and control groups. A plausible explanation for these findings was that mice with the clinical signs might be less active but were able to consume as much grains as mice without the clinical signs because food was in abundant supply.     

Criterion for estimating humidity control capacity of materials in a room

As a measure of estimating humidity control capacity of materials in an airtight room under sinusoidal temperature variation, we used the Cb value, which is the ratio of the range of variation in relative humidity in a steel box lined with the material of interest to the range in an empty steel box. In order to clarify the factors that affect the Cb value, we focused on both the temperature variation rate and the area that is lined in the box. It was found that changing the rate of temperature variation over one period strongly affected the Cb value, although the amplitude of temperature variation did not. We further noticed that the difference between the time when peak temperature was reached and the time when peak absolute humidity was reached (peak time difference), was found to be useful for estimating the humidity control capacity of materials. Knowing the difference between the phase when peak temperature was reached and the phase when peak absolute humidity was reached (phase angle difference) was also useful. Because the Cb value was affected by both the variation period and the lined area in the box, we can draw a contour diagram of the period and the lined area for materials to give an overview of the humidity control capacity of a material. The materials of primary interest in this study were Japanese cedar and porous ceramics.