A Preliminary identification the plant species of Pika (Ochotona rufescens) diet (Case study: lashgardar protected area, Hamedan province)

Abstract

The pika, Ochotona rufescens, spends a considerable amount of time during spring and summer to caching vegetation. These caches (haypiles) have been as the main source of pika diet securance in winter, as a source of food for intermittent periods when the Pika is unable to forage elsewhere, or when food is scarce. In this study sixteen haypiles of pika was assessed to identify pika diet. As a result were identified 37 plant species of pika diet. Arrhenatherum kotschyi Boiss that was detected in 8 haypiles, Had the Highest frequency in plant species that was collected by pika.