The distribution and behavioral characteristics of plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae)

Plateau pikas ( Ochotona curzoniae ) are regarded as one of the main reasons for the degradation of alpine meadows in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). The population density of plateau pikas is directly related to the degree of grassland damage. In this study, a one-week field observation was conducted in the southeastern QTP in August 2019. Based on the photos and videos, the random encounter model (REM) was used to estimate the population density of plateau pikas, and the frequency of different behaviors was counted. The effects of water source distance and terrain on the distribution of plateau pikas were also investigated. In addition, the frequency of different behaviors of plateau pikas under different population densities was also explored. The observations and knowledge derived from this study provide a reference for the population control of plateau pikas.