Ochotona cansus
Gansu pika

Ganzu pikas (Ochotona cansus) are endemic to China and are located in the Ganzu, Qinghai, and Sichuan provinces. (Lagomorph Specialist Group, 1996)

Ganzu pikas inhabit alpine shrub habitats, which are part of steppe-meadow environments. Ganzu pikas live in alpine areas where temperatures fall below freezing even during summer nights, with elevations ranging from 2000 to 4000 m (Kenagy and Zheng, 2006). Ganzu pikas are mainly found in shrubby cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa), but avoid dense shrub areas, preferring areas slightly open such as natural mounds created by zokors (Myospalax). These mounds are used to avoid predators, allowing the pikas to see easier and having escape nearby (Jiang and Wang 1991). (Jiang and Wang, 1991; Kenagy and Zheng, 2006)

The physical morphology of Ganzu pikas is similar to that of Moupin pikas (Ochotona thibetana), and they can be confused in the field. However, Changlin et. al. 1997 suggests that the two species can be identified by the zygomatic arch. Ganzu pikas have narrower zygomatic arches than Moupin pikas. (Changlin, Liming, and Ning, 1997)

No information on longevity of Ganzu pikas was found in the literature. Most pikas live for only a few years, with high first year mortality rates.

Social organization in Ganzu pikas is divided into four phases. First litter emergence defines the spring phase (March to May). In this phase home ranges for males expand (1233.09 m^2) and female home ranges stay mainly stable (519.94 m^2).

The family phase is from May to August and is characterized by the existence of family structure caused by the philopatry of young within the home ranges of their parents. Once the young are weaned, they live near their natal burrow and gradually begin to disperse. At this time, the mother abandons the area and seldom encounters the young. During this phase both males and females expand the size of their home ranges.

In the rearrangement phase, from August to September, there is rapid juvenile and subadult dispersal, the family structure during the reproductive period breaks down, and pairs form between males and females. During this time, female home ranges are stable, but subadult males become wanderers.

In winter, or stable, phases, both male and female home ranges shrink (male 772.13 m^2, females 458.56 m^2). Overlap between male and female home ranges is increased, creating a pair-bond that is likely to last until the spring phase of the next year and ensures mating. (Jiang and Wang, 1991)

Ganzu pikas exhibit allogrooming, grooming each other in the area of their head and ears, areas where ectoparasites may be concentrated. Allogrooming is usually brief and therefore only a ritualized friendly pattern not serving to clean the pelage. (Jiang and Wang, 1991)

Ganzu pikas have the habit of defecating at a latrine site. Defecation takes place in open areas, such as a small mound, presumably because the sites were suitable for digging faces pits. Males were observed defecating anywhere from 2-10 pellets at a time. (Jiang and Wang, 1991)

Home Range

The home range of Ganzu pikas is variable over the course of one year. During different phases of life, home range changes are related to breeding periods. Home ranges are marked by either cheek rubbing or anal rubbing. Males were observed in aggressive postures when encountered by other males on the outer most areas of home ranges. (Jiang and Wang, 1991)

Ganzu pikas use their vision to remain vigilant for predators. When two littermates are together they often display body contact or play. When two males come close enough to be seen, the two males will often display warning postures and then chase or retreat into respective territories (Jiang and Wang 1991). (Jiang and Wang, 1991)

Like many other pikas (Ochotona), Ganzu pikas make frequent, sharp calls. There were 4 types of called identified:

1. Long calls are used only by males and last about 8 seconds. Other males ignored the male that was giving the call. It is speculated that this is a breeding call because it is used during the breeding season.
2. Short calls are used by both sexes and sound like "kit". They are used as a predator warning call. Neighboring pikas respond strongly to the call, fleeing to cover or burrows. Short calls probably play important role in intra-population contact as well.
3. Trills are used by both sexes. They sound like "ki-ki", and occur at dusk and dawn. This call immediately triggers responses from other Ganzu pikas, and are often intermingled with short calls as well.
4. Whines consisted of 1 to 3 weak "ku-ku" calls. The caller was usually near the natal burrow. This call is believed to communicate anxiety in young pika and functions as mother-infant contact. When the call was heard by the mother, she went to her young and began to nurse them.

(Jiang and Wang, 1991)

Ganzu pikas, like other mammals, also use chemical cues extensively in communicating. Important forms of chemical communication are:

1. Cheek rubbing, which is seen only in males during the breeding season. The areas that were rubbed were areas that overlapped parts of another males home range.
2. Anus rubbing, also seen only in males during breeding season, it is thought to be a form of territorial marking, occuring when males are defecating.
3. Nasal-nasal or oral-nasal contact. This usually occurred when two individuals encountered each other. This behavior may be important for the two individuals to become familiar with each other’s odor and identity. This behavior is indicative of a intimate relationship between two individuals.

(Jiang and Wang, 1991)

Ganzu pikas, like most pikas, are herbivorous, grazing on the grasses and herbaceous plants in their native communities.

Through visual communication, Ganzu pikas are well adapted to predator evasion. Ganzu pikas remain vigilant, especially to aerial predators, and have a set of warning calls to alert others to danger. Warning calls trigger other pikas to respond with more warning calls, maximizing the efficiency of the transmission of danger signals. Buteo hemilasius, Falco cherrug, Mustela eversmanii, and Mustela altaica are the major predators of Ganzu pikas. (Jiang and Wang, 1991)

Ganzu pikas impact vegetation communities through their grazing and food storage. They may also be important prey for native predators in steppe ecosystems.

There are no known adverse effects of Ochotona cansus on humans.

Ganzu pikas are important members of their native ecosystems.

Ochotona cansus populations do not appear to be in decline, therefore they are assessed as Least Concern. (Lagomorph Specialist Group, 1996)

To date, most systematic treatments of Ochotona have been based on morphological characteristics; however, morphology often exhibits phenotypic plasticity and convergent evolution. The goal of the Changlin et al. (1997) study was to clarify confusion concerning six species of Chinese pikas through mtDNA restriction-site analysis. Ganzu pikas are often included in Moupin pika species (Ochotona thibetana) because of similarities in pelage color, size, and shape of the skull. Mitochondrial DNA analysis determined that these were in fact two separate species. Changlin et al. (1997) suggest that evolutionary diversification of pikas might be influenced by historical episodes of geologic and climatic changes. During the early Pleistocene the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau was uplifted, which resulted in an ice age, and moutain formation. Northwestern China became drier due to the rain shadow effect caused by the plateau. Therefore, vegetation was significantly altered and isolation of habitats was frequent. All of these events provide good opportunity for diversification and specialization within the genus Ochotona. Recent geological studies show that an ice sheet did not cover the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau during the Quaternary Ice Age. Therefore, ancestral pikas may have been typical of arid, cold adapted steppes, but now are located in steppe, shrub, coniferous forests, and alpine rocks. This suggests that pikas responded to habitat shifts induced by continued uplift of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and glacial cycles from the late Pliocene to the Pleistocene through gradual adaptation to new habitats (Changlin et al., 1997).

Ochotona emerged in the fossil record in the late Miocene in central Asia (Changlin et al., 1997). (Changlin, Liming, and Ning, 1997)