The population dynamic changes of plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi) is closely related to its reproductive performance that is influenced by the habitat condition. For clarifying the relationship between the reproductive performance of plateau zokor and its rangeland habitat condition, we selected two pastures with different zokor population densities to investigate the monthly changes of the botanical composition, total biomass, aboveground biomass, underground biomass, polysaccharide content of plant root, soil compaction, soil moisture as well as the zokor population density during the breeding season. Based on the Multi-way ANOVA and Independent sample T test analysis, the results showed that the may is breeding peak, the june is end of breeding. There was no significant difference in the reproductive performance between male zokors during the breeding seasons and female zokors during the breeding peak (P>0.05), there was significant difference in the reproductive performance in the end of breeding. The sex ratio of the zokor in the pasture with higher population density was greater than that in the pasture with lower population density during their reproduction peak. However, the sex ratio of the zokor in the pasture with lower population density was greater than that in the pasture with higher population density during the early and final breeding period. There was no significant difference in the botanical composition, total biomass, aboveground biomass, underground biomass between the two pastures with higher and lower zokor population density(P>0.05), however, the polysaccharide content of plant root had significant difference in the soil depth (0-30 cm) between the two pastures (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the soil compaction except in the soil depth (0-20cm) between the two pastures with different zokor population densities (P>0.05), the soil moisture had significant difference in the soli depth from 0 to 30cm(P<0.05). The results indicated that the changes of the zokor reproductive performance was related to the polysaccharide content of plant root and soil moisture and unrelated to the botanical composition, total biomass, aboveground biomass, underground biomass, soil compaction and moisture.
ZHOU Yanshan, HUA Limin, CHU Bin, LIU Li, JI Chengpeng, TIAN Yongliang
. The relationship between the reproductive characteristics of plateau zokor(Eospalax baileyi) and its rangeland habitat condition#br#[J]. ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA, 2017
, 37(1)
: 87
-96
.
DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.201701007