Their breeding season lasts from April to August and the young do not disperse in the year of birth. Females can produce 2 to 5 litters of about 2 to 7 offspring with a three-week interval in between each litter which is why this group of lagomorphs are known to have the fastest growth rates of their order. Plateau pikas have mating systems such as monogamous and polygynandrous groups, which contain about three males and 3 to 4 females per family along with their offspring. ( November 2020) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. The species is currently considered threatened, mostly due to aggressive poisoning campaigns by Chinese populations, predominantly to eliminate competition for food with livestock. In addition to its role as a prey base, the plateau pika is important for soil health in meadows the burrowing of the species helps to aerate the soil.

They also provide microhabitats by increasing plant richness and their burrows provides nests for small birds and reptiles.Īccording to the Chinese biologists who have studied the wildlife of the Hoh Xil (northern part of the Tibetan Plateau), plateau pikas are the favorite food of the area's brown bears. Plateau pikas are considered to be a keystone species as they play a role in recycling nutrients in soil, providing food to predators such as foxes, weasels, falcons, Asia pole cat, upland buzzard, and owls.

Breeding season 6.6.1 chan