Effects of quinestrol and levonorgestrel on populations of plateau pikas, Ochotona curzoniae, in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

BACKGROUND

Plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae, Hodgson, 1858) are viewed as a pest in the Tibetan Plateau meadow ecosystem when their population densities are high. Traditional culling using rodenticides often poses a high risk to non-target species and even to humans. In this study, an investigation was made of the infertility effects of quinestrol (E), levonorgestrel (P) and a combination of the two (EP, ratio E:P = 1:2) on plateau pikas during 2007 and 2008.

RESULTS

Treatment with E or EP significantly decreased the pregnancy rate of female pikas in 2007. In 2008, there was a cross-year effect that still suppressed male reproduction in treated groups. Treatment with E obviously reduced the reproduction of pikas but not their population abundance in 2007; the reduction in population size was significant in 2008.

CONCLUSIONS

Single baiting of quinestrol in early breeding season reduced the reproduction and population size of pikas throughout 2007. The effect of infertility lasted into the next breeding season through a cross-year effect, which resulted in a significant reduction of population size in 2008. Quinestrol is a very promising non-lethal approach to managing pika populations; however, several factors need to be investigated further to improve the practicality of this method.