scholarly journals Acute cold stress: a potential threat to Royle's pika (Ochotona roylii) survival at Central Himalayas of Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-40
Author(s):  
N. P. Koju ◽  
M. K. Chalise ◽  
R. C. Kyes
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Cold Stress ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Central Himalayas ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Model Animal

Climate change and its threat to human life and biodiversity are under discussion as the major issue of this century. In this study, pika (Ochotona roylii) was taken as a model animal to study the effect of changing climatic parameters in the Central Himalayas of Nepal. The study was carried out for three consecutive years (2011−2013) in the Kyanjing Valley situated at 3900 m asl, Langtang National Park, Nepal. The study focused on the population density of pika, its lowest elevation distribution, and temperature patterns of the pika-burrows and their immediate surroundings. An iButtons Temperature Recorder was installed inside a pika-burrow for acquiring burrow temperature while the ambient temperature data were obtained from the nearby metrological station. The population density of pika decreased compared to those based on the previous studies. Over the last 25 years, there was a significant increase in the minimum temperature (R2 =0.77) that decreased the snow cover which might have reduced the insulation effect and colder winter to animals living inside the burrow. The temperature inside the burrow was recorded below −5°C for nearly 50% time during January alone and 25% time during total winter days. The environment with a temperature below −5°C could be a threat to the survival of pikas suffering from acute cold stress. Neither there was any record of heat stress (above 25°C) recorded nor there was an increasing trend of the ambient maximum temperature within the LNP during the study period. The lowest elevation of the pika's habitat was found to have shifted 200 m upwards over the last 46 years, indicating that the animals had either migrated upwards or facing extinction locally at lower elevations. However, this short-term study is not sufficient to reflect the effects of climate change on the population of pika in the Central Himalayas. Therefore, a long-term study is required to explore the relation between pikas and their vulnerability to the changing climate

scholarly journals Effects of Environmental Variables on Some Physiological Responses of Microtus montanus under Natural Conditions

1984 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 69-70
Author(s):  
Aelita Pinter
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Natural Conditions ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Microtus Montanus ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Microtine Rodents ◽  
Different Seasons

Cyclic fluctuations in the population density of microtine rodents have been known since antiquity. However, factors responsible for this phenomenon are not known. The objectives of this long term study are essentially threefold. First, to characterize those environmental variables that might affect Microtus montanus in different seasons of the year. Second, to record the growth, maturation and reproductive activity of the voles under natural conditions. Third, to determine the maturational as well as the seasonal pelage changes of these rodents. The data resulting from the execution of the above objectives would be correlated in an attempt to determine the causes underlying the multiannual fluctuations in the population density of these microtine rodents in Grand Teton National Park.

scholarly journals Climatic Factors, Reproductive Success and Population Dynamics in the Montane Vole, Microtus montanus

1991 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 162-164
Author(s):  
Aelita Pinter
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Small Rodents ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Microtus Montanus ◽  
Long Term Study

Multiannual fluctuations in population density ("cycles") of small rodents have been known since antiquity (Elton 1942). Numerous hypotheses have been proposed to explain this phenomenon (for reviews see Finerty 1980, Taitt and Krebs 1985). However, none of these hypotheses, alone or in combination, have been able to explain the causality of cycles. The objectives of this long-term study are to determine whether environmental variables, possibly acting through reproductive responses, contribute to the multiannual fluctuations of the montane vole, Microtus montanus.

scholarly journals Effects of Environmental Variables on some Physiological Responses of Microtus montanus under Natural Conditions

1985 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 98-99
Author(s):  
Aelita Pinter
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Natural Conditions ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Microtus Montanus ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Microtine Rodents ◽  
Different Seasons

Cyclic fluctuations in the population density of microtine rodents have been known since antiquity. However, factors responsible for this phenomenon are not known. The objectives of this long term study are essentially three-fold. First, to characterize those environmental variables that might affect Microtus montanus in different seasons of the year. Second, to record the growth, maturation and reproductive activity of the voles under natural conditions. Third, to determine the maturational as well as the seasonal pelage changes of these rodents. The data resulting from the execution of the above objectives would be correlated in an attempt to determine the causes underlying the multiannual fluctuations in the population density of these microtine rodents in Grand Teton National Park.

scholarly journals Effects of Environmental Variables on Some Physiological Responses of Microtus montanus Under Natural Conditions

1981 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 77-79
Author(s):  
Aelita Pinter
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Natural Conditions ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Microtus Montanus ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Microtine Rodents ◽  
Different Seasons

Cyclic fluctuations in the population density of microtine rodents have been known since antiquity. However, factors responsible for this phenomenon are not known. The objectives of this long term study are essentially fourfold. First, to characterize the environmental variables that might affect Microtus in different seasons of the year. Second, to record the growth, maturation and reproductive activity of Microtus montanus under natural conditions. Third, to determine the maturational, as well as, seasonal pelage changes of these rodents. Fourth, the data resulting from the execution of the first three objectives would be correlated in an attempt to determine the causes underlying the multiannual fluctuations in population density of these microtine rodents.

scholarly journals Climatic Factors, Reproductive Success and Population Dynamics in the Montane Vole, Microtus montanus

1987 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 103-105
Author(s):  
Aelita Pinter
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Small Rodents ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Microtus Montanus ◽  
Long Term Study

Multiannual fluctuations in population density of small rodents have been known since antiquity. However, factors responsible for this phenomenon remain unknown (Krebs and Myers 1974, Finerty 1980, Taitt and Krebs 1985). The objectives of this long-term study are to determine whether environmental variables, possibly acting through reproductive responses, contribute to the multiannual fluctuations of the montane vole, Microtus montanus.

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