Smith says loss of habitat to man is among the dozens of reasons why furry creatures are becoming increasingly scarce. They are believed to have first arrived in North America by crossing the Bering land bridge. Pikas probably originated in Asia, where all but two of the 25 existing species are known to live. Their fur-covered feet, but bare toe pads and sharp, curved claws help them climb from rock to rock with ease, whether it is in Tibet, California or Japan.įossil remains indicate the pika family is more than 30 million years old. They have stocky, egg-shaped bodies, short legs, and are almost tailless with little round ears. Generally speaking, a fully-grown pika is about the size of a guinea pig. Last week, Smith traveled to northern Japan to help in a growing grassroots movement to save the pika. "Pikas are one of the most charismatic of all the mammals," Smith says. His work has taken him to some of the coldest alpine regions of the world, including Tibet, to study the Plateau pika. Smith, who is chairman of the Species Survival Commission's Lagomorph Specialist Group, has been studying the pika, or rock rabbit, for more than 30 years. Andrew Smith, a conservation biologist and one of the world's leading pika experts. "Twenty-five percent of lagomorph species are endangered and some are among the world's rarest mammals," says Dr. Lagomorphs - rabbits, and their cousins, hares and pikas- are being threatened worldwide. Morihiro Ichukawa, email: ĪSU Professor helps in fight to protect Japanese Pika habitatīecause of an old saying, most people may never suspect that rabbits could ever end up on the endangered species list, but an Arizona State University professor says, guess again. Andrew Smith, Arizona State University (602) 965-4024 The paper, Habitat Availability and Gene Flow Influence Diverging Local Population Trajectories Under Scenarios of Climate Change: A Place-Based Approach, can be found here.Lynette Summerill, (602) 965-4823, However, the current high genetic diversity in this park's population may increase the species' resiliency to heat stress. Heat stress is an important factor making the pikas here vulnerable to extirpation. Yellowstone National Park, WY – Like Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone is expected to become warmer and drier.Researchers conclude that pika populations in this park are highly vulnerable to extirpation. Rocky Mountain National Park, CO – Climate models say the predicted higher temperatures here will cause habitat suitability and connectivity to decline.This may be due in part to increased growing season and availability of forage plants. Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA – Although this Cascade Mountains park is comparatively warm and wet, researchers anticipate long-term persistence of pikas here.Continued monitoring will better resolve the question of pika population vulnerability at Lava Beds. Inconclusive results may be due in part to the influence of sub-surface microclimates created by lava flows. Surprisingly, models did not provide clear evidence of extirpation as the scientists expected. Lava Beds National Monument, CA – Like Craters of the Moon, this low-elevation park is warm and dry.Large and well-connected habitat patches are likely to remain into the future, so pika populations are predicted to remain stable or increase. Grand Teton National Park, WY – Because this high-elevation park is so cold and wet, pikas live in warmer and drier areas.Maintaining connectivity between habitat areas will be an important factor, but pikas are likely to persist in the northern half of the park. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, CO – Changes in precipitation will be important in this cool and arid park.Because of the isolation of the pika population, low genetic diversity and small area of current distribution, researchers conclude the pika population is vulnerable to extirpation (local extinction). Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, ID –This low-elevation park is warmer and drier than the others, and research models suggest a variety of scenarios for pikas. Researchers predict a steep drop to less than 50 percent occupancy of remaining habitat. As snowpack declines, patches of pika habitat will become more isolated. Crater Lake is warmer in winter and cooler in summer compared to other parks in the study, and it receives the most snow.
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