An Investigation of Nocturnal Activity in American Pikas (Ochotona princeps) Using Camera Traps Along a Temperature Gradient

Serra, Alessia

Undergraduate Honors Thesis

An Investigation of Nocturnal Activity in American Pikas (Ochotona princeps) Using Camera Traps Along a Temperature Gradient Public Deposited

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Citeable URL: https://scholar.colorado.edu/concern/undergraduate_honors_theses/9z903147s

Abstract

Background A decline is expected in the range of the American pika (Ochotona princeps), a sentinel species of the alpine tundra, due to warming temperatures. The extent of this decline will partly depend on the potential for behavioral adaptability in this species.

Aim or purpose of research This study assessed pika activity and the potential for increased nocturnality as a form of behavioral adaptability in sites across a temperature/elevational gradient in the Front Range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Camera traps were used to allow continuous observation.

Methods used Utilizing seven sites along the temperature/elevation gradient to model climate change, behavioral data was collected from pikas inhabiting sites at different elevations and slope aspects on Niwot Ridge, Boulder County, Colorado, USA. The number of “daytime” and “nighttime” captures were modeled as linear functions of elevation and slope aspect or daytime temperature to infer temperature effects on pika nocturnal activity.

Findings and Conclusion Pika activity, both during daytime and nighttime were inversely related with mean daytime temperatures across the temperature/elevation gradient. Pikas did not exhibit significantly increased nocturnal activity at sites with southern aspects or warmer mean daytime temperature. These findings do not exclude the possibility that pikas may exhibit increased nocturnality in the future or at lower elevation sites. Almost 15% of pika captures in this high elevation study were nighttime captures; this statistic showed that pikas were one of the most nocturnal of the several diurnal species observed in this study. Camera traps allowed continuous observation, but automated harvesting of data was a problem in this study.

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