pikas, rabbits, and hares

Lagomorpha

Fast FactsToday consist of 2 families, ~13 genera, ~80 species

Ochotonidae- pikas Leporidae- jackrabbits & hares and rabbits Prolagidae- Mediterranean giant pikas (extinct)

Earliest fossil- 55 million years ago in MongoliaFamilies much more diverse in the Tertiary period than today

Fast FactsHerbivores

Peg like teethTerrestrialFound on all continents

except Antarctica Exotic species in Australia and

New ZealandSimilar adaptations to

RodentiaPossible Superorder

Glires???

Leporididae vs. OchotonidaeLeporididae

Large earsElongated hind limbs“cotton ball” tailsFenestrated maxillaArctic, deserts, tropics, forest

OchotonidaeSmall earsShort limbsNo tailsNotched incisorsTalus slopes or steppe areas

Leporids: Rabbits vs. HaresRabbits

Well-constructed, fur lined nests

Altricial youngInterparietal bone in skull42 chromosomes

HaresShallow depressions,

“forms”Precocial youngNO interparietal bone48 chromosomes

Pika diversity by habitat

Smith, A. (2008). The World of Pikas. In Lagomorph biology evolution, ecology, and conservation. Ed. Alves, P et. al. Springer: New York

Reproduction in LeporidsInduced ovulation

Egg is released shortly after copulation

Postpartum estrusGestation period trade off

Higher latitudes have shorter gestation periods to produce more young in favorable weather, and larger litter size

longer gestation in tropical species are born more fully developed and able to avoid predators

Chapman, J. (1984). Latitude and Gestation Period in New World Rabbits. The American Naturalist 124(3): 442-445

Coprophagy: Adaption to low quality forage

Ingestion of feces (hard & soft)Quickly excrete poorly digestible large particles (hard), retain

fine particles for excretion and re-ingestion (soft)Very sophisticated digestive system

Feces

Hard

Day-timeFood digestibility

Night- time (temporary)Supplemental food

Soft Vitamins and microbial proteins

Hirakawa, H. (2001). Coprophagy in leporids and other mammalian herbivores. Mammalian Review 31:61-80

Pika and hay making: WHY?Storing food for winter??

Not enough foodDon’t eat all that is storedHaypile size have no

relation to mortalityConclusions:

Enough food for 8 monthsNeed large piles because

only 25% of what is stored is available

Store food to survive shortages

Secondary use: bedding

Dearing, M.D. (1997). The Function of Haypiles of Pika. Journal of Mammalogy 78(4): 1156-1163

Biomass of haypile throughout the year

Pika and hay making: foraging selection Observed species available and

species chose based on diversity and abundance

Selective in vegetation for making hay Chose plants rich in secondary

compounds (tannins) Reject evergreens

Conclusions: Eat what is most available in

summer store what is not edible in

summer for winter do not store what will be

available in winterGliwicz, J., S. Pagacz, J. Witczuk. (2006). Strategy of Food Plant Selection in the Siberian Northern Pika. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 38(1): 54-59

European Rabbits in AustraliaBrought to Australia by

Europeans as a game species to be hunted

Degrade the land, reduce native vegetation, and may cause extinction of native mammals

Control Methods Biological control (virus) Hunting and trapping Rabbit-proof fence Poisoning

http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/publications/pubs/rabbit.pdf

Metapopulations in PikaRemain close to the

location they were bornDispersal can be difficultSurvival of one patch is

highly dependent on the number of neighboring patches

Need to learn what causes patches to be recolonized or to go extinct to ensure the future of the pika

Smith, A. (2008). The World of Pikas. In Lagomorph biology evolution, ecology, and conservation. Ed. Alves, P et. al. Springer: New York

1. Diversity within the order Pika, rabbits, and hares

2. Reproduction Induced ovulation, gestation periods

3. Foraging Adaptations Hay making and coprophagy

4. Management Issues too many, metapopulation dynamics

Main Points

Chapman, J. (1984). Latitude and Gestation Period in New World Rabbits. The American Naturalist 124(3): 442-445

Chapman, J. & J.E.C. Flux. (2008) Introduction to the Lagomorpha. In Lagomorph biology evolution, ecology, and conservation. Ed. Alves, P et. al. Springer: New York

Dearing, M.D. (1997). The Function of Haypiles of Pika. Journal of Mammalogy 78(4): 1156-1163

Gliwicz, J., S. Pagacz, J. Witczuk. (2006). Strategy of Food Plant Selection in the Siberian Northern Pika. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 38(1): 54-59

Hirakawa, H. (2001). Coprophagy in leporids and other mammalian herbivores. Mammalian Review 31:61-80

Smith, A. (2008). The World of Pikas. In Lagomorph biology evolution, ecology, and conservation. Ed. Alves, P et. al. Springer: New York

http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/publications/pubs/rabbit.pdf

Works Cited

Picture Creditswww.cryptomundo.com,

www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk,

northwestnaturalmoments.blogspot.com

westerncascades.com

environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca,

thehuntinglife.com

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/classification/Mammalia.html#Mammalia%23

wild-facts.com