Bhaiya KhanalOur Nature/ Our Nature (2007 )(2007)5:5:37-40 37-40 New Report on the Symbiotic Relation of Ochotona roylei (Lagomorpha: Ochotonidae) and Scaly Breasted Wren Babbler (Pnoepyge albiventer) at Ganesh Himalaya Area of Central Nepal

Bhaiya Khanal

Natural History Museum, Swayambu, Kathmandu,Nepal Email: [email protected]

Received: 19. 11.2007, Accepted: 12.12.2007

Abstract The symbiotic relationship of and is still a least understood phenomenon in biological science. This study at 3300 m near Somdang of Ganesh Himal area of central Nepal provided a new and interesting information on the behavior of Royle’s Pika (Ochotona roylei) which shared its haypile with a bird called Scaly Breasted Wren Babbler (Pnoepyge albiventer). Among the inspected 11 haypiles one haypile was observed sheltering both bird and pika.

Keywords: Symbiotic, behavior, haypiles, pika, relationship

Introduction are unpopular small lagomorphs livestock to pika’s haypiles. Melnikov having rounded ears, short legs and devoid (1974) has stated that the domestic cows of tails. They have little longer front legs and horses generally locate Pika’s haypiles than the rear ones. These are and start feeding the hays deposited in there. absolutely restricted to the Himalayas, the This generally happens in winter when the mountains and steppes of , and pasture land is covered with snow. the mountains of western North America According to Naumov (1974), shrews (Prater, 1965). The presence of four incisors (Sorex sp.) which are insectivorous in their differentiates it from which bears diet generally hunt Pika’s haypiles in alpine two incisors only. Altogether five species of region to feed upon insects present in there. this has been reported in Nepal Around Pika’s caches the voles and shrews Himalaya out of 29 species worldwide are more numerous almost to five times (IUCN, 1990). The fairly common species more than in the surrounding areas. in Nepal is Ochotona roylei which is distributed along the northern highland belts Diversity of Symbiotic Animals of Nepal. Pika are interestingly shared with The talus dwelling pikas have low and other faunal components mainly small constant densities as compared to the and . In Tibetan Plateau, the burrowing pikas found in the Himalayan burrows of the Plateau Pika offer breeding moss forests (Smith et al., 1990). Various habitat for many bird species like Hume's evidences have shown a good relation of Ground Jay (Pseudopodoces humilis) and

37 Bhaiya Khanal / Our Nature (2007)5: 37-40 several species of snow finches (Meyer de and Finch’s relation was already reported by Schaunensee 1984, Ma 1995, Schaller 1998, H.S. Nepal which is mentioned by Fleming Smith et al., 1990). According to Smith et al. (2000). (1996), Pere David's Snow Finch (Pyrgiauda davidiana) and Isabelline (Oenanthe Results isabelfina) regularly nest in the holes of Diagnosis of Pika species Daurian pikas. The native lizards Based on morphological characteristics, the (Phrynocephalus, Eremias) in Tibet also use observed species was identified as Royles pika’s burrows as breeding sites. The burrows Pika (Ochotona roylei). This mammal lives of Afghan pikas are shared with rock in two types of habitat at higher elevations dwelling persicus, a. moss forest and b. talus environment. The M. libycis, talus dwellers live under rocks and piles of Rhombomys opimus, mouse like hamster stones while the forest dwellers make Calomyscus mystax, gray hamster Cricetulus burrows under the roots of trees. The migratorius and White toothed Shrews vegetable diet of Pika varies considerably Crocidura spp. (Sapargeldyev,1987). Various with the season still coarse grasses are studies made in have shown that the reported as their major diet. In higher ground squirrels undulates and elevation, they also feed upon alpine Hamsters and voles, live in the burrows of flowers, berries, leaves etc. Ochotona roylei Pallas’s Pika O. pallasi pricei (Smith et al., (Royle’s Pika) has a wide range of 1990). The caches or burrows of Black Lipped distribution in the Himalayas though Pika provide nesting habitats for several distributional gaps occur in some places. species of birds at the Tibetan plateau: Their altitude ranges from 3400-4300 m.

Methodology Diagnosis of Bird species This study was made in the remote Ganesh According to Mr. H.S Kazi (pers.com.) and Himalaya area of northern Kathmandu in Fleming (2000), the Scaly Breasted Wren April of 1993. About 11 haypiles of pikas Babbler (Pnoepyge albiventer) is a common were studied for bird-pika mutual bird which generally occurs at 610 to 3560 relationships. One haypile at an elevation of m in the mountains. This bird can be seen at 3300 m provided very good result and was Phulchoki and Sheopuri mountains of studied in greater details. Mr. Hari Sharan Kathmandu as well. The distributional range Kazi, the well known ornithologist, who of this bird is also extended to Grahwal, was also present in this study, was quite Sikkim, Himalayas to Formosa. helpful to identify the bird species (Scaly Every observed data in the field was breasted Wren Babbler) observed in pika’s noted down. haypile. Direct observation was made on pika and Field Observation bird relationship. Displayed behavior at each sighting was noted down. This study April 23, 1993. was continued for two days and is the first a. Royles Pika (Ochotona roylei) and Scaly ever report on Royle’s Pika and Scaly Wren Breasted Wren Babbler (Pnoepyge Babbler’s symbiotic relation though Pika albiventer) showed up together at 9 am. The

382 Bhaiya Khanal / Our Nature (2007)5: 37-40 bird stayed out very close to pika and both Babbler (Pnoepyge albiventer) was quite were basking sun; pika was very alert to the interesting and provided a good example of calm surrounding. They returned to their symbiotic relation of animals in nature. haypile after refreshing out for 15 minutes. Royal Pikas are hypsobiont species which The bird was searching food on the ground occur both in the talus and forest habitats not leaving pika very apart. above 2800 m of elevation. The forest form is considered more social than the talus one. b. At 9.45 am, both the bird and pika appeared again, the pika looked around very Causes of Symbiotic Relationship cautiously. This lagomorph approached to a. The scarcity of suitable nesting sites at feed upon tender petals of Primula plant. higher elevation might have caused babbler The bird was seen picking something on the to share pika’s haypile. ground (may be seeds). b. Undisturbing nature of the Wren Babbler c. The next observation was made at 11.30 to Pika’s internal life style might be the am when both were out for about 15 possible cause of their symbiotic minutes. This time, pika accompanied by relationship. bird rested upon a boulder and looked around if any predators are present there. c. The narrow cache of Pika if occupied by the bird may impart warmness to the d. The same day, next observation was surrounding as higher elevation is very cold made at 1 pm. Both animals returned to and harsh condition prevails here year their established shelter staying out for 10 round. This kind of co-existence can be a minutes. better mechanism for heating inner environment. April 24, 1993. The pika and bird appeared actively when d. Their non-competent nature for food can sun hit the ground around 8 am. We started be believed for co-existence. exploring ten other haypiles which were found occupied by pikas only. These e. This kind of relationship may alert each lagomorphs appeared frequently and were other in their home range area if any observed attentive and alert against slight predator approaches to them. disturbances around. We were back again to observe the Discussion previous haypile occupied by pika and bird. According to Primack (1998), Pika is a Like before, coming out of pika and bird keystone species if lost once will disturb continued till 12.30 pm at every interval of proper functioning of an ecosystem. It 20-30 minutes. The total observation was provides shelter to many small birds, lizards made for four times. Usually, both stayed and insects and also helps to increase in plant outside for a short period. In afternoon, their diversity by disturbing microhabitat condition frequency of showing up declined remarkably. around the vicinity of the hay pile areas. The co-existence of Royal Pika Some pollinating fly species often seek (Ochotona roylei) and Scaly Breasted Wren shelter in Pika’s burrows. Interesting

393 Bhaiya Khanal / Our Nature (2007)5: 37-40 examples of bird and Pika association was References reported by H.S. Nepali in June 1977 in Red Fleming. R.L. Sr., R.L. Fleming Jr. and L.S. Bangdel. Necked Snow Finch (Montifringilla ruficollis) 2000. Birds of Nepal. Adarsh Enterprises, Delhi, , pp.320-321. and Blandford’s Snow Finch (Montifringilla IUCN 1990. Rabbit, hares and pikas: Status, survey blanfordi) at 4819 m of elevation in north and conservation action plan. IUCN, Mustang of Nepal (Fleming et al., 2000). Switzerland, pp.14-60. They were observed feeding together near Kawamichi, T. 1971a. Daily activities and social pattern of two Himalayan Pikas, Ochotona openings of the Pika’s burrows. macrotis and O. roylei, observed at Mt. Everest. The catching of food is very weakly J. Fac.Sci. Hokkaido. Univ. Japan. Ser.VI, Zool, developed in Royle’s Pika, although they 17: 587-609. apparently are more likely to construct Ma, M. 1995. Suggestions for the protection of some haypiles than the large eared Pika (Ochotona pikas. Nature 2: 26 Melnikov, V.K. 1974. On the ecology of ochotona macrotis) (Kawamichi, 1971a). This species alpine pall in the western Sayan Mountains. is sympatry to Royale’s Pika in Rasuwa Byull. Mosk.Obsh. Ispytat. Prirody, Otd. Biol. district of central Nepal. Shrestha and Khanal 79: 141-142. (1999) indicated that about 33 species of Meyer de Schauensee, R. 1984. The Birds of China. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington DC. plants were deposited in the haypiles of this Naumov, R.L.. 1974. Ecology of ochotona alpine in and 48 species of plants were the west Sayan. Zool.Zh.53: 1524-1529. observed within the home range of Royle’s Prater, S.H. 1965. Book of Indian animals. Bombay Pikas. They found plants like Stellaria, Natural History Society, Hornbill House grasses and mosses as major depositions in Bombay, India pp.218-221 Primack, R.B. 1998. Essentials of conservation biology, haypiles. This study found that pikas are 2nd edition. Sinauer, Sunderland, Massachusetts. relatively active in morning sun and were Sapargeldyev, M. 1987. Ecology of the Afghan pika in seen crossing snow beds to reach their . Ylym, Ashkhabad.144p. foraging plants for catching hays. In after Schaller, G. 1998. Wildlife of the Tibetan steppe. Chicago, University of Chicago Press. noon, they decline their activities and hide Shrestha, K., B. Khanal and J.B. Karki, 1999. themselves in their caches. Foraging and haying plants of Royles Pika (Ochotona roylei: Lagomorpha) in far-west Acknowledgements Nepal. Journal of Natural History Museum 18: Natural History Museum of Nepal is 3-13. Smith, A.T. and J. Marc Foggin. 1996. The plateau acknowledged for granting my affiliation in pika is a keystone species for biodiversity on the this research program. Dr. Jeff Groth, Senior Tibetan plateau. In: Conserving China's Ornithologist of American Museum of Biodiversity (II) (Eds. P. Johan Schei, Wang Natural History, New York is appreciated for Sung and XIE Yan). China Environmental Science Press, Beijing. pp.211-221. his kind cooperation to my field research. I Smith, A.T., A. N. Formozov, R. S. Hoffmann, Zheng owe my special thank to Mr. H. S. Nepali Changlin and M. A. Erbajeva. 1990. The pikas. “Kazi’ whose cooperation, company and In: Rabbits, hares, and pikas: Status survey and information was highly valuable to me. Dr. conservation action plan (Eds. J. A. Chapman Garry Ahlburn is acknowledged for his and J. E. C. Flux). IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, pp. 14-60. timely help in the field.

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