Group-living decrease predation risk of individual: Evidence from behavior, hormones and reproduction of plateau pika

Extensive research confirms that abiotic stressors like predation risk can profoundly affect animal condition. However, there is a lack of experimental assessing the suite physiological responses to risk. We increased in free-living plateau pikas ( Ochotona curzoniae ) by simulating natural chases using model predator (UAV: unmanned aerial vehicle) and monitored behavior, physiology, reproduction pikas. found that: Predation affects body weight pika under different population density stress, but effect not significant. Compared with non-predation treatment (control), high stress mainly responded reducing foraging time increasing vigilance time, while low pressure only reduce appropriately increase also focus on concealing burrows. The corticosterone (CORT), cortisol thyroid (T 4 level was significantly higher than those control, testosterone (T), progesterone (PROG), leptin (LEP) testicular lower control. There no difference litter size female between treatments Broadly, our result show had significant effects physiology density, response male greater female. Therefore, prevention should control protection predators, so as avoid failure ecological methods such enemies due density.