Abstract | BACKGROUND: Plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae, Hodgson, 1858) are viewed as a pest in the Tibetan Plateau meadow ecosystem when their population densities are high. Traditional culling using rodenticides often poses a high risk to non-target species and even to humans. In this study, an investigation was made of the infertility effects of quinestrol (E), levonorgestrel (P) and a combination of the two (EP, ratio E:P = 1:2) on plateau pikas during 2007 and 2008. RESULTS: Treatment with E or EP significantly decreased the pregnancy rate of female pikas in 2007. In 2008, there was a cross-year effect that still suppressed male reproduction in treated groups. Treatment with E obviously reduced the reproduction of pikas but not their population abundance in 2007; the reduction in population size was significant in 2008. CONCLUSIONS: Single baiting of quinestrol in early breeding season reduced the reproduction and population size of pikas throughout 2007. The effect of infertility lasted into the next breeding season through a cross-year effect, which resulted in a significant reduction of population size in 2008. Quinestrol is a very promising non-lethal approach to managing pika populations; however, several factors need to be investigated further to improve the practicality of this method.
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Authors | Ming Liu, Jiapeng Qu, Min Yang, Zengli Wang, Yanling Wang, Yanming Zhang, Zhibin Zhang |
Journal | Pest management science
(Pest Manag Sci)
Vol. 68
Issue 4
Pg. 592-601
(Apr 2012)
ISSN: 1526-4998 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 22232019
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry. |
Chemical References |
- Contraceptive Agents
- Levonorgestrel
- Quinestrol
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Topics |
- Animals
- Contraceptive Agents
(pharmacology)
- Ecosystem
- Female
- Fertility
(drug effects)
- Levonorgestrel
(pharmacology)
- Male
- Pregnancy
- Quinestrol
(pharmacology)
- Rabbits
(growth & development, physiology)
- Seasons
- Tibet
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