Plateau pika and grassland degradation: relationships and management in the Sanjiangyuan Region, China

In this paper, we investigated the controversy over the keystone species plateau pika, its relationship with grassland degradation, and the suggested solution to the rodent problem in the Sanjiangyuan region of Qinghai Province, China. We argue that the plateau pika plays a pivotal role in maintaining biodiversity and vegetation diversity and that its population should be maintained at an appropriate level. Meanwhile, the root cause of pasture degradation is overgrazing, and the plateau pika further contributes to the degradation of pastures. We propose a three-step solution of ecological management, pika management, and grassland rehabilitation for addressing the issue, suggesting the use of multi-paddock grazing and non-lethal contraceptive control for long-term reduction of pika populations, and finally re-seeding and weed control for restoring the health of the pastures.