关键词: 高原鼠兔, 生境选择, 阿尔金山自然保护区, 主成分分析

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the main factors affecting the microhabitat selection of plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) during summer in the alpine meadow and alpine desert of Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China and to provide a basis for the prevention and control of plateau pika. Methods A total of 69 test sample sites (5 m×5 m) in the caves with pika activity and 62 control sites in nearby similar habitats without pika activity were set and investigated from July to August 2012. The ecological factors of areas where the samples were located were recorded, including elevation, number of plant species, vegetation coverage, vegetation height, soil hardness, and distance from the roads. Results There were significant differences in vegetation height, vegetation density, slope, elevation, vegetation types, and soil hardness between the test sites and control sites (P＜0.05). According to the results of principal component analysis, the main factors affecting the habitat selection of plateau pika were slope (0.886), number of plant species (-0.865), and soil hardness (0.834). Conclusion The plateau pika prefers the habitats with higher elevation, steeper slope, lower vegetation height, higher vegetation density, and lower soil hardness in alpine meadow or alpine desert, which provides an important basis for regulating the population density of plateau pika by improving the vegetation.

Key words: Ochotona curzoniae, Microhabitat selection, Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve, Principal component analysis