How do plateau pikas use burrows during population reestablishment?

Abstract

Abstract The construction of burrow systems is one of the most important challenges for burrowing animals, especially during population reestablishment. To explore their strategy of utilizing burrow resources during this period, we chose plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) as the research object. We conducted monthly field positioning of the four components (available burrows(AvB), abandoned burrows (AbB), latrine pits(LP), and sporting pits (SP)) of their burrow systems. By analyzing the utilization dynamics of the components at different base time, we found the remaining burrows before extermination were largely utilized in rebuilding their new burrow systems, and theutilization rate magnitude relationshipsof the four components were AvBs > AbBs > LPs > SPs. Burrow components during population reestablishment generally have higher maintenance rates, higher transformation rates to AvBs, lower disappeared rates and lower new adding rates than in the natural state. During population reestablishment, burrows at the early breeding season are used more stably than at other times.