文献类型： 外文期刊

作者： Arthur, Anthony D. ¹ ; Pech, Roger P. ¹ ; Davey, Chris ¹ ; Jiebu ² ; Zhang Yanming ³ ; Lin Hui ⁴ ;

作者机构： 1.CSIRO Sustainable Ecosyst, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia

2.Tibet Acad Agr & Anim Sci, Lhasa 850023, Tibet, Peoples R China

3.Chinese Acad Sci, NW Plateau Inst Biol, Xining 810001, Qinghai, Peoples R China

4.Tibet Bur Agr & Anim Husb, Lhasa 850000, Tibet, Peoples R China

关键词： snowfinch; burrow; ground-nesting; grassland; passerine

期刊名称：BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION （ 影响因子：7.497； 五年影响因子：7.39 ）

ISSN： 0006-3207

年卷期： 2008 年 141 卷 8 期

页码：

收录情况： SCI

摘要： On the Qinghai-Tibet plateau increased livestock numbers have resulted in degradation of the grasslands with potential impacts on native biodiversity. Concurrently, perceived increases in populations of native small mammals such as plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) have led to poisoning programs, with uncertain impacts on species such as ground-nesting birds. We explored the relationships between the local seasonal abundance of small birds and (1) the density of pika burrows; (2) livestock grazing practices; and (3) local poisoning of pikas. Around Naqu prefecture, central Tibet, we used a nested experimental design to collect data from areas rested from grazing over summer, nearby areas with year-round grazing and areas subjected to pika poisoning. Additional data were collected from a site where grazing had not occurred for at least 4 years prior to the study. Poisoning pikas in spring had no detectable effect on the local abundance of birds the following autumn. However, two ground-nesting species, white-rumped and rufous-necked snowfinches, showed positive associations with the density of pika burrows, indicating that long-term 'pika poisoning could reduce the density of these species by reducing the density of pika burrows. Rufous-necked snowfinches and non ground-nesting species including horned larks and common hoopoes showed positive responses to reduced grazing pressure from livestock, particularly in the long-rested site, indicating current grazing levels could be having a negative impact on these species. Conservation of small passerine biodiversity in this system will require changed management practices for livestock and pikas that consider the complex three-way interaction between livestock grazing, pikas and small birds. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.