Characterization of the spatial distribution of plateau pika burrows along an alpine grassland degradation gradient on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

	Characterization of the spatial distribution of plateau pika burrows along an alpine grassland degradation gradient on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
	Qian, Dawen; Li, Qian; Fan, Bo; Lan, Yuting; Cao, Guangmin
刊名	ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
	2021
卷号	11 期号:21
关键词	alpine grassland landscape pattern pika burrow Qinghai-Tibet Plateau UAV
英文摘要	Plateau pika burrows are common feature of degraded grassland in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) and serve as an important indicator of pika activity and grassland degradation. However, the current understanding of the spatial pattern changes of pika burrows and their critical thresholds across a degradation gradient in alpine grassland is deficient. In this study, we investigated and quantified changes in the spatial pattern of plateau pika burrows under typical degraded alpine shrub meadows in the northeastern QTP using an unmanned aerial vehicle and landscape pattern metrics. The degradation of the alpine shrub meadow leads to a change in landscape pattern from a two-layered structure of alpine shrub and alpine meadow to a mosaic of alpine meadow and bare soil, with plateau pika burrows scattered throughout. Moderate degradation is the tipping point for changes in surface landscape patterns, followed by the disappearance of alpine shrub, the retreat of alpine meadows and the encroachment of bare soil, and the increasing density and size of pika burrows. The area characteristics of alpine meadows have influenced changes in the spatial pattern of pika burrow, and maintaining its proportional area is a vital measure to control the threat of pika burrows to pastures. The results of this paper provide a methodological reference and guidance for the sustainable utilization of grassland on the QTP.
内容类型	期刊论文
源URL	[http://210.75.249.4/handle/363003/60696]
专题	西北高原生物研究所_中国科学院西北高原生物研究所
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Qian, Dawen,Li, Qian,Fan, Bo,et al. Characterization of the spatial distribution of plateau pika burrows along an alpine grassland degradation gradient on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau[J]. ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION,2021,11(21).
APA	Qian, Dawen,Li, Qian,Fan, Bo,Lan, Yuting,&Cao, Guangmin.(2021).Characterization of the spatial distribution of plateau pika burrows along an alpine grassland degradation gradient on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION,11(21).
MLA	Qian, Dawen,et al."Characterization of the spatial distribution of plateau pika burrows along an alpine grassland degradation gradient on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau".ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION 11.21(2021).