Social behaviour of the steppe-dwelling black-lipped pika.

A. T. Smith, H. J. Smith, Xue Gao Wang Xue Gao, Xiangchu Yin Xiangchu, Junxiun Liang Junxiun

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ochotona curzoniae were studied near Qinghai Lake on the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau, People's Republic of China. Pikas lived in burrows on an alpine steppe meadow. The dense population (>100/ha) was structured in monogamous family groups composed of a single adult male, a single adult female, older (half-grown) juveniles, and younger (newly weaned) juveniles. Individuals in all sex and age classes were frequently active and engaged in a wide variety of social and nonsocial behaviors. O. curzoniae exhibited a rich vocal repertoire of at least 7 distinct calls. Social interactions and vocalizations associated with these interactions were most often expressed by younger juveniles. Most adult vocalizations were given in a nonsocial context.-from Authors

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)57-74
Number of pages18
JournalNational Geographic Research
Volume2
Issue number1
StatePublished - Jan 1 1986

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Environmental Science
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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