The Relationship Between Habitat Selection And Snowfall For Plateau Pika

Habitat fitness is a comprehensive concept of environmental factors,including climate,food and risk,which has a decisive influence on the natural distribution pattern and population dynamics of plateau pika(Ochotona curzoniae).Based on the habitat selection and preference of plateau pika,the relationship between habitat fitness of plateau pika and snowfall was studied by comparing the characteristics of pika populations among different vegetation patches.The results showed that the rate of snowmelt was positively correlated with the density of pika population,the area of bare land,and the number of mounds,while negatively correlated with the height of vegetation.Whether food can be obtained in the shortest time after sonwfall was an important indicator for habitat fitness,and the basic driver of behavioral orientation of plateau pika.Vegetation character is an important factor affecting the rate of snowmelt,and its patch feature is an important indicator for determining the distribution pattern of plateau pika population and predicting its dynamic trend.