POPULATION AND COMPARATIVE BEHAVIOUR OF OCHOTONA ROYLEI AND OCHOTONA MACROTIS IN GOSAINKUNDA AREA, LANGTANG NATIONAL PARK, NEPAL

Abstract

Study on the behavior of pika (Ochotona roylei and O. macrotis) was carried out during the monthsof July and August 2011 in Gosainkunda, Langtang National Park (LNP), Nepal. Pika inhabits in thetalus habitats of the alpine area. Tharepati (3651 m asl), Phedi (3825 m asl), Gosainkunda (4436 masl), and Laurebina (3903 m asl) were selected for behavior recording. Quadrates of 50 m × 50 mwere randomly plotted at each site except in Phedi. Only two species of pika were recorded in thoseareas: Ochotona macrotis was 75 individuals and Ochotona roylei 49 individuals. The ratio of agegroup adult and infant in O. macrotis was 29:46 and O. roylei 16:33 population with density 21/haand14/ha, respectively. Eleven pikas were observed for 455 min to record their behaviour from 5:30AM to 19:30 PM in each day. Feeding, foraging, musing, grooming, chasing each other (playing)were the recorded behavior. They were active at dawn and dusk but were not observed during rainyperiod. They spent their 26% of time in feeding, 24% in musing, 16% in foraging, and 11% ingrooming. Pikas were observed digging soft rocks, soil and mosses on the rock before dischargingpellets.Study on the behavior of pika (Ochotona roylei and O. macrotis) was carried out during the months of July and August 2011 in Gosainkunda, Langtang National Park (LNP), Nepal. Pika inhabits in the talus habitats of the alpine area. Tharepati (3651 m asl), Phedi (3825 m asl), Gosainkunda (4436 m asl), and Laurebina (3903 m asl) were selected for behavior recording. Quadrates of 50 m × 50 m were randomly plotted at each site except in Phedi. Only two species of pika were recorded in those areas: Ochotona macrotis was 75 individuals and Ochotona roylei 49 individuals. The ratio of age group adult and infant in O. macrotis was 29:46 and O. roylei 16:33 population with density 21/ha and14/ha, respectively. Eleven pikas were observed for 455 min to record their behaviour from 5:30 AM to 19:30 PM in each day. Feeding, foraging, musing, grooming, chasing each other (playing) were the recorded behavior. They were active at dawn and dusk but were not observed during rainy period. They spent their 26% of time in feeding, 24% in musing, 16% in foraging, and 11% in grooming. Pikas were observed digging soft rocks, soil and mosses on the rock before discharging pellets. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/eco.v19i0.9853EcoprintAn International Journal of EcologyVol. 19, 2012Page: 57-62Uploaded date: 2/14/2014