THE BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RODENT PESTS ON THE PASTURE IN INNER MONGOLIA AND THE ECOLOGICAL STRATEGIES OF CONTROLLING

Abstract

This paper deals with the types of the rodent pest area on the grazing land in Inner Mongolia and the regularity of their forming and developing. Colonial rodents such as Microtus brandti, Meriones unguiculatus and Ochot-ona daurica do harm to the grazing lands in this region. Over-grazing and unsuitable reclamation result in the degeneration of grazing lands which provide favourable conditions for these rodents in their habitat selection. In certain successive stages of degeneration of grassland community, the population density of the harmful rodents increases with the growth of degeneration, moreover, it accelerates the degeneration of the grazing lands.There will be a succession of these colonial rodents in the grazing lands under sustained over-grazing. The ecological strategies for preventing the present degeneration-rodent destroyed pastures are suggested. To improve the range management and to prevent over-grazing of the pastures are the main measures for controlling the rodent pests in Inner Mongolia.