Food Caching Behavior in Pikas
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HomeThis site aims to provide information on the behavior of food caching, focusing mainly on food caching by pikas, but also referring to other species where information on pikas is limited. We used Tinbergen's Four Questions as a framework, looking at the phylogeny, ontogeny, adaptive value, and mechanisms behind food caching. Food Caching Behavior in PikasPikas graze on vegetation within their territory throughout the year to sustain themselves. Their specific diet is dependent on location, but they are known to consume grasses, sedges, moss, and lichen. In addition to grazing, the pikas also horde caches of food from July through September when plant biomass is as its peak. This behavior is known as ‘haying’, and pikas have been known to harvest entire plants for their caches. These food caches alone are not enough to sustain the pikas through winter without supplementation from grazing, but they serve as a backup food source in the event that the pika is unable to forage due to lack of vegetation, competition, or risk of predation. Background Information on PikasPikas, also referred to as ‘conies’ or ‘rock rabbits’, are small herbivorous mammals belonging to the family Ochotonidae. They are related by order to rabbits and hares. The family can be divided into three subgenuses: northern pikas, shrub-steppe pikas, and mountain pikas. Most species inhabit cold, mountainous regions of Asia, Eastern Europe, and North America. Recently, pikas have been the face of some campaigns against global warming as increasing temperatures have forced them to move to increasingly higher elevations. Tinbergen's 4 Questions: A Framework for Studying Animal Behavior
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