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

Abstract 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 ac...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales:	Dawen Qian, Qian Li, Bo Fan, Yuting Lan, Guangmin Cao
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Wiley 2021
Materias:	alpine grassland landscape pattern pika burrow Qinghai–Tibet Plateau UAV Ecology QH540-549.5
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/4ce5752df5134491a3e7a3b282cea2c6
Etiquetas:	Agregar Etiqueta Sin Etiquetas, Sea el primero en etiquetar este registro!

id	oai:doaj.org-article:4ce5752df5134491a3e7a3b282cea2c6
record_format	dspace
spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:4ce5752df5134491a3e7a3b282cea2c62021-11-08T17:10:40ZCharacterization of the spatial distribution of plateau pika burrows along an alpine grassland degradation gradient on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau2045-775810.1002/ece3.8176https://doaj.org/article/4ce5752df5134491a3e7a3b282cea2c62021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8176https://doaj.org/toc/2045-7758Abstract 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.Dawen QianQian LiBo FanYuting LanGuangmin CaoWileyarticlealpine grasslandlandscape patternpika burrowQinghai–Tibet PlateauUAVEcologyQH540-549.5ENEcology and Evolution, Vol 11, Iss 21, Pp 14905-14915 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	alpine grassland landscape pattern pika burrow Qinghai–Tibet Plateau UAV Ecology QH540-549.5
spellingShingle	alpine grassland landscape pattern pika burrow Qinghai–Tibet Plateau UAV Ecology QH540-549.5 Dawen Qian Qian Li Bo Fan Yuting Lan Guangmin Cao Characterization of the spatial distribution of plateau pika burrows along an alpine grassland degradation gradient on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
description	Abstract 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.
format	article
author	Dawen Qian Qian Li Bo Fan Yuting Lan Guangmin Cao
author_facet	Dawen Qian Qian Li Bo Fan Yuting Lan Guangmin Cao
author_sort	Dawen Qian
title	Characterization of the spatial distribution of plateau pika burrows along an alpine grassland degradation gradient on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
title_short	Characterization of the spatial distribution of plateau pika burrows along an alpine grassland degradation gradient on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
title_full	Characterization of the spatial distribution of plateau pika burrows along an alpine grassland degradation gradient on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
title_fullStr	Characterization of the spatial distribution of plateau pika burrows along an alpine grassland degradation gradient on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
title_full_unstemmed	Characterization of the spatial distribution of plateau pika burrows along an alpine grassland degradation gradient on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
title_sort	characterization of the spatial distribution of plateau pika burrows along an alpine grassland degradation gradient on the qinghai–tibet plateau
publisher	Wiley
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/4ce5752df5134491a3e7a3b282cea2c6
work_keys_str_mv	AT dawenqian characterizationofthespatialdistributionofplateaupikaburrowsalonganalpinegrasslanddegradationgradientontheqinghaitibetplateau AT qianli characterizationofthespatialdistributionofplateaupikaburrowsalonganalpinegrasslanddegradationgradientontheqinghaitibetplateau AT bofan characterizationofthespatialdistributionofplateaupikaburrowsalonganalpinegrasslanddegradationgradientontheqinghaitibetplateau AT yutinglan characterizationofthespatialdistributionofplateaupikaburrowsalonganalpinegrasslanddegradationgradientontheqinghaitibetplateau AT guangmincao characterizationofthespatialdistributionofplateaupikaburrowsalonganalpinegrasslanddegradationgradientontheqinghaitibetplateau
_version_	1718441470100242432

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

Ejemplares similares