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Methods for large scale assessment of small mammal abundance in open habitats : plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) in alpine grassland

Qu J., Li W., Yang M., Li K., Zhang Y.

Polish Journal of Ecology

2011

Vol. 59, nr 4

829-833

Quick and accurate estimation of population density in large scale is required in both scientific studies and wildlife management programs. However, effective estimation of small mammal abundance is usually difficult and timeconsuming due to the body size and wide distribution of these animals. To test the efficiency of different methods in assessing small mammal densities, population dynamics of plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae, Hodgson) were studied from April 2005 to August 2009 in alpine grassland (Kobresia humilis) at a height of of 3846 m a.s.l. We compared the precision of walked transects method with mark-recapture method using Efford's maximum likelihood spatial estimator (ML). Significant positive correlation was found between walked transects and Efford's ML estimator (r[^2] = 0.58, P <0.001). The densities calculated with walked transects were about twice lower than those obtained using the mark-recapture method over the study period (i.e., summer). Nevertheless, the walked transects method remains useful for relative density estimation. Hence, the walked transects method is recommended for use as an index of relative density in large-scale assessment in alpine grassland where most small mammals are active and easily detected in an open habitat.

Host sex and ectoparasite infections of plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae, Hudson) on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Ci H., Lin G., Su J., Cao Y.

Polish Journal of Ecology

2008

Vol. 56, nr 3

535-539

A total of 449 plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae Hudgson) individuals were sampled with rattraps from 21 plots (size 1 ha) randomly scattered over the area of the species distribution at the altitude 3275-4807 m a.s.l. in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (West China). Two main ectoparasite species Hypoderma satyrus Brauer and Ixodes crenulatus Neumann of plateau pika were surveyed, and the relations between host sex and parasitism were analyzed. The results were: (i) although not significantly, the infection rate of female young was close to zero and lower than that of male young (6%), while the infection rate of female sub-adults (19%) was contrarily - higher than that of male sub-adults (11%); adult females had significantly higher (41%) infection rate than that of males (18%) (P <0.001); (ii) the parasite infection rates for both males and females increased with increasing age, but female age-groups had obviously steeper slope. We suggested that the differences of body mass, growth rate and home range between males and females had mainly caused the sex-biased parasitism (SBP) of plateau pika at each age stage. Also, due to the higher increases of body mass and maybe as well as of the home range differences between consecutive age-groups, the parasite infections of females became more sensitive to the influences of age than that of males.

Reproduction and behavior of plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae Hodgson) under predation risk: a field experiment

Yang Shengmei, Yin Baofa, Cao Yifan, Zhang Yanming, Wang Jinlong, Wei Wanhong

Polish Journal of Ecology

2007

Vol. 55, nr 1

127-138

The mixture of the feces and urine of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus) was used to increase the perception of predation risk of plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae Hodgson) in the field. The influence of the predation risk on the reproduction and behavior of plateau pikas was examined through comparing reproductive characteristics and five different kinds of behavior between treatment and control plots. The results showed that 1) the body weight of the pikas was not significantly different between treatment and control plots. 2) The reproductive period of the pikas extended from March to later August in both treatment and control plots. The pregnant ratio, developed testes ratio, reproductive success and sex ratio of the pikas were not significantly different between the treatment and control plots. 3) The pikas increased their observing and calling frequencies and decreased their moving and feeding frequencies when exposed to red fox's feces and urine. 4) The increased red foxs feces and urine had no influence on the behavior of the pikas when the number of their natural enemies increased; the pikas obviously increased the observing frequencies and sharply decreased the calling frequency so as to decrease the direct predation risk. 5) There were no significantly behavioral differences between males and females as well as between adults and young. 6) The results reject the hypothesis l that the red fox's feces and urine as indirect predation risk suppresses the reproduction of the pikas and support the hypothesis 2 that the pikas can make decision by changing behavior to avoid the predation risk they encountered whenever.