The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) is the world’s highest and largest plateau, with an average elevation exceeding 4,000 meters. It is often referred to as “the roof of the world” and sometimes termed the “Third Pole” because of its ice fields containing the largest reserve of fresh water. The QTP is of intense scientific interest. To complete STEP, our team conducted a scientific investigation from the end of July to the beginning of September this year, which lasted more than one month. The main purpose of this scientific expedition is to investigate the distribution and ecological environment of wild animals and collect samples.
Species diversity on QTP is different from that of low altitude areas due to its special ecological environment. A variety of wild animals such as Tibetan antelope, elegant and calm Tibetan wild donkey, plateau pika and Himalayan marmot, and cunning and suspicious Tibetan fox and red fox are living on QTP. These wild animals are interdependent and form a closely connected food chain, which makes a very important contribution to the stability of QTP ecosystem. Protecting QTP's wild animals is an important link in protecting QTP ecology.
During this scientific expedition, our team have encountered many wild animals. We expect their populations to increase significantly compared with previous reports. For example, we have encountered Tibetan antelope in Chang Tang Nature Reserve, Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve (SNNR), and Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve, which were once endangered many times, now gather in groups in many places. There are thousands of Tibetan antelopes distributed near the banks of Dazecuo Lake. Groups of Tibetan antelopes can establish a "natural enemy early warning system" to avoid attacks by wolves and brown bears in time. According to the latest report of the “2020 We and Tibetan Antelope”, they found more than 200,000 Tibetan antelope populations in the Chang Tang Nature Reserve alone, which showed that the population of Tibetan antelopes is gradually recovering. We also found many Tibetan wild donkeys in groups. When we drove by, they are not afraid and still graze carefree and walked leisurely and calmly, as if they knew that they were national first-class protected animals and humans would not harm them. Plateau pika is the most common small mammal on QTP as it has a larger distribution and number. Plateau pika is vividly known as the “grassland engineer” on QTP. Although their holes are a threat to the grassland ecosystem, these caves are also a shelter for small birds such as ground tits. Their manure increase soil fertility and provide conditions for the growth of plateau plants. Besides, plateau pika is the Tibetan fox and other small and medium-sized plateau carnivores’ food. Thy play an important role in maintaining the biodiversity and the balance of QTP ecosystem.
(http://digitalpaper.stdaily.com/http_www.kjrb.com/kjwzb/html/202010/30/content_456119.htm?div=-1)