Ecologically-based rodent management in the agro-pastoral ecotone of North China: a case study in Mongolian gerbils

doi:10.16829/j.slxb.201703012

Abstract

Abstract:

The agro-pastoral ecotone of North China not only is a vulnerable ecosystem zone，but also is an ecological security boundary line in China. Rodent pests have always been one of the important ecological issues plaguing the agriculture-stock production of this area. With increased understanding of ecological and environmental security, research and development of ecologically based pest management, aimed at maintaining such security, has begun paying attention to natural pest regulation, highlighting the “win-win” nature of gains in both pest control and sustainable development. As a case, we demonstrated a study of Mongolian gerbils Meriones unguiculatus, which were one of major rodent pests of the agro-pastoral zone in Inner Mongolia, China. We reviewed the characteristics of group living, food hoarding, and space behavior in gerbils, and their behavioral adaptation to habitat quality or food abundance as well as to local phenological characters and agronomic cultivation practices. We propose that key manipulation principles of a synergistic habitat management strategy should focus on adaptive characteristics of pest behavior in ecologically-based management of Mongolian gerbils. It is hoped to that this information will enable exploration of ecologically- based management strategies via fundamentals behavioral ecology, which integrate sustainable environment- friendly rodent control and integral benefits.

Key words: Agronomic practices, Food hoarding behavior, Group living behavior, Habitat management, Meriones unguiculatus, Space behavior

摘要： 中国北方农牧交错带是典型的生态脆弱区，但也是我国遏制土地荒漠化、沙化东移和南下的重要生态安全屏障带。鼠害一直是困扰该地带农牧业生产发展的重要生态问题之一。就鼠害防治而言，随着人们生态与环境安全意识的提高，研究和制定以生态系统为中心，注重自然调控作用，突出控害和经济双重持续增益的生态治理方法越来越为人们所关注。本文以内蒙古农牧交错区主要害鼠——长爪沙鼠(Meriones unguiculatus)为例。在概述该鼠集群-贮食-空间行为及其对食物丰度的生态适应特征基础上，针对农牧交错区害鼠行为适应特征提出结合当地农事活动进程—栖息地管理的协同控害原理及实施要点。为运用行为生态学原理，探索可同步整合无公害持续控制和整体效益目标的生态治理途径及其应用提供启示。

关键词: 长爪沙鼠, 栖息地管理, 农作措施, 空间行为, 贮食行为, 集群行为

LIU Wei, ZHONG Wenqin, WAN Xinrong, WANG Jianqing. Ecologically-based rodent management in the agro-pastoral ecotone of North China: a case study in Mongolian gerbils[J]. ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA, 2017, 37(3): 308-306.

刘伟钟文勤宛新荣王建青. 北方农牧交错带鼠害生态治理对策—以长爪沙鼠为例[J]. 兽类学报, 2017, 37(3): 308-306.

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Ecologically-based rodent management in the agro-pastoral ecotone of North China: a case study in Mongolian gerbils

北方农牧交错带鼠害生态治理对策—以长爪沙鼠为例

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