Ochotona huangensis

Geographic Range

The Tsing Ling pika is endemic to the steppe regions of Central China and is distributed throughout the Shaanxi, Gansu, Sichuan, Henan, Hubei, and Qinghai provinces (Hoffmann and Smith, 2005; Smith and Johnston, 2008).

• Biogeographic Regions
• palearctic palearctic
  • native native

Habitat

The Tsing Ling pika is found in the steppe region of central China. This area consists of temperate mixed forests, shrublands, and grasslands. A large majority of their territory is considered to be semi-arid. The species can also be found near agricultural or pastoral fields where humans in villages commonly grow crops or graze livestock. The species build and live in extensive burrow systems. The species can be commonly found at elevations between 1800 and 2700 m. However, they have been known to live at elevations of 4000 m (Smith and Johnston, 2008; Smith et al., 1990; Wesche, Nadrowski, and Retzer, 2007).

• Habitat Regions
• temperate temperate

• Terrestrial Biomes
• savanna or grassland savanna or grassland
• forest forest

• Other Habitat Features
• agricultural agricultural

Physical Description

Pika morphology is highly conserved among all species. All pikas have short silky fur, short rotund ears, and very short tails that consist of 8 vertebrate. They also have a short neck relative to body size that supports a large globular head with large black eyes. The burrowing pikas, like the Tsing Ling pika, have longer and stronger claws, relative to talus-dwelling pikas. they also has shorter whiskers than the talus-dwelling species of pika. The pelage coloration of the Tsing Ling pika differs from summer to winter. In the summer its' ventral pelage is a darker russet-brown and as winter comes the color fades and becomes a more dull brown. In both seasons the dorsal pelage is a grayish white. The Tsing Ling pika has a distinctly flatter and more broad skull than the other pika species that it lives sympatrically with. The Tsing Ling pika weighs around 80 grams and is around 12.5-17.6 cm long (Smith and Johnston, 2008; Smith et al., 1990; Vakurin et al., 2012; Yang, 1990).

• Other Physical Features
• endothermic endothermic
• bilateral symmetry bilateral symmetry

• Sexual Dimorphism
• sexes alike

Reproduction

Very little is known about the mating system of the Tsing Ling pika specifically. However, the mating systems of other Asian burrowing pikas, like the Tsing Ling pika, can be variable and are commonly monogamous or polygynous (Smith et al., 1990).

Very little is known about the mating behavior of the Tsing Ling pika specifically. Gestation periods for Asian burrowing pikas are approximately 25-30 days. The Tsing Ling pika can have litter sizes that range from 1 to 5. They typically reach sexual maturity and mate during the summer of their first year. Some burrowing pika females are known to choose their mates based on den structure. Females of some species are known to disperse at maturity. Juvenile males will sometimes receive the territories of their fathers upon their death since they stay in their natal area (Brandt, 1989; Smith et al., 1990).

• Key Reproductive Features
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
• sexual sexual

There is very little data available for the parental investment of Tsing Ling pikas. Males of other pika species have not been seen to give any direct parental investment to their offspring with the females contributing much of the investment. However, female investment is not very intensive or long which only includes a short nursing period. Males may give indirect parental investment by giving warning calls and protection from predators (Brandt, 1989; Whitworth, 1984).

Lifespan/Longevity

there is very little data about the lifespan of Tsing Ling pikas. The lifespan of other pika species is generally 1-2 years in the wild and can live up to 4 years. Some species showed average captive life spans of 2.5-3 years (Smith et al., 1990; Yang, 1990).

Behavior

There is very little known about the behavior of the Tsing Ling pika. What is known for sure is that it is diurnal and digs complex burrow systems that it lives in, like many other Asian pikas. For most other Asian pikas social behavior is limited to reproduction and family unit interactions for females. Male pikas typically only have interaction with other males involving territorial disputes. Males and females usually on interact during breeding season and that is typically for mating purposes. Pikas are noted for collecting vegetation from their immediate area and piling it up into a hay pile in their burrow. They use this burrow as stored food for over the winter when food is scare in the cold harsh climates of northern Asia (Brandt, 1989; Retzer and Reudenbach, 2005; Smith et al., 1990; Whitworth, 1984).

• Key Behaviors
• fossorial fossorial
• diurnal diurnal
• motile motile

Home Range

There is very little home range data available for the Tsing Ling pika. For most other Asian pikas their home range consists of their burrow and an area of land that surrounds their burrow. There is little data on how large this area is for the Tsing Ling pika (Retzer and Reudenbach, 2005; Smith et al., 1990; Whitworth, 1984).

Communication and Perception

There is little information regarding communication among Tsing Ling pikas. Among other pika species there are various types of calls exhibited that serve different purposes such as mate solicitation, alarm calls, and territorial calls. Pikas will also scent mark areas of their territory to keep away other pikas. Pikas can also recognize individuals based on the scent of an individual gives off by the scent glands on its' cheeks (Brandt, 1989; Whitworth, 1984).

• Perception Channels
• visual visual
• tactile tactile
• acoustic acoustic
• chemical chemical

Food Habits

There is little information regarding the diet of Tsing Ling pikas. Most other Asian pika species are classified as generalized herbivores (Hoffmann and Smith, 2005; Smith and Johnston, 2008; Smith et al., 1990).

• Primary Diet
• herbivore herbivore
  • folivore folivore

Predation

There is little information regarding predation on the Tsing Ling pika. The other species of pika are preyed upon heavily by a variety of different predators. They make up a large food source for many predatory animals, especially birds. Pikas will give alarm calls when a predator is spotted to warn those nearby and they will also retreat to their burrow for protection (Brandt, 1989; Davidson, Detling, and Brown, 2012; Retzer and reudenbach, 2005; Whitworth, 1984). The known predators of the Tsing Ling pika are not well studied. However, the predators are likely to be similar to the other species of Asian pikas. These predators include polecats, falcons and buzzards, foxes, pallas cats, and snow leopards (Davidson, Detling, and Brown 2012).

Ecosystem Roles

Tsing Ling pikas belong to the steppe and shrub land ecosystem in central China and there is little information regarding how this specific species impacts their environment. However, it is known that other Asian pika species play a role in nutrient recycling for the same ecosystems by making hay piles in their burrows. Pikas can accumulate large amounts of vegetation within a single hay pile and as that pile decomposes it contributes to the direct recycling of nutrients in plant biomass to the top soil. There is some evidence that these decomposing hay piles also increase the productivity and biomass on the plants in the soil above them. Pikas can also negatively impact their ecosystem by severely reducing plant biomass to make their hay piles if populations become too large for an area. The act of digging up soil to make their burrows helps loosen the soil which can increase plant productivity and increased water infiltration. Pika burrows are also extremely stable and can hold up for multiple years without regular maintenance. Pikas will sometimes cooperatively share the safety of their burrow with other small vertebrates and invertebrates and old burrows become great homes for other species. Asian pikas are also important food sources for predators like falcons and foxes which heavily rely upon their populations as a primary food source (Davidson, Detling, and Brown, 2012; Retzer and Reudenbach, 2005; Wesche, Nadrowski, and Retzer, 2007).

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Little is known about whether the Tsing Ling pika confers any specific ecological importance to humans. Other species of pika have been hunted in the past for their pelts, but the trade in their pelts in recent decades has diminished. Some Asian burrowing species of pika have been found to increase the growth of certain vegetation that are preferred by livestock. This can positively impact those people who raise and rely on livestock as a form of income and food by increasing grazing material (Davidson, Detling, and Brown, 2012; Retzer and Reudenbach, 2005; Wesche, Nadrowski, and Retzer, 2007).

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

Little is known about any potential negative impacts from the Tsing Ling pika on its' towards humans. There is some information regarding how other Asian pika species impact local human populations. The most known effect that pikas have on humans is that as pikas graze on the same vegetation and areas as local population's livestock they are effectively competing against them. One study of a pika species in Mongolia concluded that the competition between both species reduces both of their potential population numbers. In this way they are seen as a pest by most local people and their government. As both pikas and livestock eat the same vegetation they markedly reduce the prevalence of preferred plant species and allow other non palatable species to grow and out compete the preferred vegetation (Davidson, Detling, and Brown, 2012; Retzer and Reudenbach, 2005; Wesche, Nadrowski, and Retzer, 2007).

Conservation Status

The Tsing Ling pika has been given the least concern status on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This species still faces threats to its' conservation status despite being considered of least concern. With the rapid expansion of the Chinese population, deforestation of the species' habitat to create areas for a growing population and their livestock to live threatens its' status in the wild. This species is also considered an agricultural pest since it consumes much of the same vegetation as grazing livestock and competes with the livestock of local farmers. The species is seen as a pest and is commonly poisoned by locals and their governments in an effort to reduce their presence near the field they graze their livestock in (Retzer and Reudenbach, 2005; Smith and Johnston, 2008; Wesche, Nadrowski, and Retzer, 2007).

Other Comments

What little research that has been done regarding the Tsing Ling pika has been in regards to its' taxonomic grouping within pikas. There has been many discussions regarding the taxonomic groupings of pikas as research on them continues, especially on the Tsing Ling Pika. When first classified the Tsing Ling pika was placed as a subspecies of the Moupin pika and was regarded as such for much of its' history as a species. Other early research attempted to place the Tsing ling pika as a subspecies of the Daurian pika. Within the last few decades the use of advanced genetic analysis and morphological comparison techniques have resulted in the Tsing Ling pika being viewed as its' own independent species (Ning and Changlin, 1992; Smith and Johnston, 2008; Smith et al., 1990).

Additional Links

Encyclopedia of Life

Contributors

Jon Kiefer (author), Miami University, Joseph Baumgartner (editor), Miami University, Tanya Dewey (editor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

References

Brandt, C. 1989. Mate choice and reproductive success of pikas. Animal Behaviour , 37: 118-132. Accessed May 03, 2015 at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0003347289900122# .

Davidson, A., J. Detling, J. Brown. 2012. Ecological roles and conservation challenges of social, burrowing, herbivorous mammals in the world’s grasslands. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment , 10(9): 477-486. Accessed May 02, 2015 at http://www.esajournals.org.proxy.lib.miamioh.edu/doi/full/10.1890/110054 .

Hoffmann, R., A. Smith. 2005. Order Lagomorpha. Pp. 189 in Mammal Species of the World , Vol. 1, 3 Edition. Baltimore, Maryland: John Hopkins University Press.

Ning, Y., Z. Changlin. 1992. A revision of the huanghe pika Ochotona huangensis (Matschie, 1907). Acta Theriologica Sinica , 12(3): 175-182. Accessed May 02, 2015 at http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-SLXX199203002.htm .

Retzer, V., C. Reudenbach. 2005. Modelling the carrying capacity and coexistence of pika and livestock in the mountain steppe of the South Gobi, Mongolia. Ecological Modelling , 189(1): 89-104. Accessed May 02, 2015 at http://leerewelt.de/wp-content/uploads/Retzer_Reudenbach.pdf .

Smith, A., C. Johnston. 2008. "Ochotona huangensis" (On-line). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Accessed May 02, 2015 at http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/15062/0 .

Smith, A., N. Formozov, R. Hoffmann, Z. Changlin, M. Erbajeva. 1990. Rabbits , Hares, and Pikas: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan . Glan, Switzerland: IUCN. Accessed May 02, 2015 at https://portals.iucn.org/library/efiles/edocs/1990-010.pdf .

Vakurin, A., V. Korablev, J. Xue-Long, T. Grigor'eva. 2012. The chromosomes of Tsing-Ling pika, Ochotona huangensis Matschie, 1908 (Lagomorpha, Ochotonidae). Comparative Cytogenetics , 6(4): 347-358. Accessed May 02, 2015 at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.proxy.lib.miamioh.edu/pmc/articles/PMC3834567/ .

Wesche, K., K. Nadrowski, V. Retzer. 2007. Habitat engineering under dry conditions: The impact of pikas ( Ochotona pallasi ) on vegetation and site conditions in southern Mongolian steppes. Journal of Vegetation Science , 18: 665-674. Accessed May 02, 2015 at https://www.bayceer.uni-bayreuth.de/biogeo/de/pub/pub/51843/Wesche_Nadrowski_Retzer_2007.pdf .

Whitworth, M. 1984. MATERNAL CARE AND BEHAVIOURAL DEVELOPMENT IN PIKAS OCHOTONA PRINCEPS. Animal Behaviour , 32: 743-752. Accessed May 03, 2015 at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003347284801505 .

Yang, G. 1990. Physiological Characteristics of Pika (Ochotona rufescens rufescens) as a Weak Heat Tolerant Animal. Institute of Tropical Medicine , 32(4): 129-140. Accessed May 02, 2015 at http://naosite.lb.nagasaki-u.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/10069/4571/1/tm32_04_01_t.pdf .