Data from: Cascading effects of apex predator recovery on rodent foraging activity and seed predation

This dataset was collected to examine the effects of apex predator presence on post-dispersal seed predation and rodent foraging behavior in Mediterranean ecosystems of southern Spain. The study focused on the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) as a top predator capable of altering mesopredator and small mammal communities through cascading interactions. We used the fleshy-fruited tree Pyrus bourgaeana as a model species and conducted a seed predation experiment in two areas with and without lynx presence. A total of 1152 seeds were placed in 144 seed depots across forest and open habitats and three microhabitat types (rock, shrub, and open ground). Rodent activity and foraging behavior were monitored using 36 camera traps installed at a subset of seed depots, and rodent abundance was estimated with live trapping one week later. The dataset includes seed predation counts, camera-trap records of rodent visits, live-trapping results, and vegetation cover estimates. These data allow investigation of how predation risk and habitat structure influence rodent activity and post-dispersal seed predation dynamics in Mediterranean landscapes.