A System Dynamics Model for Assessing the Efficacy of Lethal Control for Sustainable Management of Ochotona curzoniae on Tibetan Plateau

Jiapeng Qu, Zelin Liu, Zhenggang Guo, Yikang Li and Huakun Zhou
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Jiapeng Qu: Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
Zelin Liu: College of Resources and Environmental Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
Zhenggang Guo: State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems SKLGAE, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
Yikang Li: Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
Huakun Zhou: Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-11

Abstract: When population abundances exceed the economical or ecological threshold, animals are always regarded as pests, so effective and sustainable management strategies are required. As a native species widely distributed on Tibetan Plateau, plateau pika is regarded as a pest when its abundance is too high. For decades, plateau pika were controlled using toxic baits by both the local government and shepherds. However, how pika population fluctuates after lethal control is far from certain. Based on our previous studies, demographic parameters of plateau pika were acquired. A system dynamics model is developed to parameterize a population model for this species. The model incorporates two age categories (juvenile and adult) of both sexes, and uses density-dependent factors, including reproduction, mortality, and migration. The model is used originally to analyze the effect of pika management on the population dynamics and resulting abundance, in order to plan optimal pest controlling strategies. The results show that lethal control is efficient when continuously conducted once each year, or twice with 2-year intervals. For sustainable controlling pest abundance, comprehensive strategies should be considered. An appropriate population model could be used to explore the optimal strategies and provide important reference into decision making about pest management.

Keywords: alpine meadow; rodent; pest management; plateau pika; population dynamics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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