The influence of red fox's odor on the reproduction of the plateau pika

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2004
Authors:Wei, W, Cao, Y, Zhang, Y, Yin, B, Wang, J
Journal:Acta Theriologica Sinica
Volume:24
Pagination:145-151
Date Published:2004
Keywords:Ochotona curzoniae
Abstract:

The influence of the predation risk by using feces and urine of the red fox on the reproduction of the plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) was studied and the reproduction suppression hypothesis was verified in the field. The results showed that the body weight of the pika, which was the index to assess the reproduction investment of the pika, has no significant difference between treatment and control plots. The red fox's odor could not influence the reproduction investment of the pika. During the early period of their reproduction, both of male and female obviously increased their reproduction investment, but the investment of female was much higher than that of male during the late period of reproduction, because the male finished his mating activity and spent less time to care for the offspring than female. The reproductive success of the female, sexual ratio and resident rate for plateau pika have no difference between the treatment and control plots, but the reproductive success of male and the sexual ratio of the offspring for plateau pika were, different between two plots. The pika could make decision and behaviorally decrease the predation risk. The results did not supported the reproduction suppression hypothesis and the predation risk did not suppress the reproduction of the plateau pika significantly.

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