Effects of Qinghai-Tibet Railway and Highway on Plateau Picas

Plateau pica (Ochotona curzoniae) is the keystone species on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. We studied relative densities of the pica using pica holes in roadside habitats in 15 locations along the parallel Qinghai-Tibet Railway and Highway by strip transect method in summer 2009. Five transects (3m*150 m) were censused according to the distance levels from the two roads (D=0 m, 300 m, 600 m, 900 m, 1200 m) in each location. Snow finches which were previously considered as neighbors of the pica living in the same hole were also counted in each transect. Our results showed that no differences in density of pica holes were found among the five distances, but there was a positive relationship between pica holes and snow finches. Our results suggested the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and Highway have no effects on the plateau picas.