The American pika (Ochotona princeps) is a small, herbivorous mammal native to western North America. While there have been recent population declines across the species range, population trajectories vary considerably. Within the Sierra Nevada (SN) subspecies (O. p. schisticeps), Great Basin (GB) populations have experienced declines at a much faster rate than populations in the SN mountain range. Differences in habitat quality between the ecoregions likely plays an important role in this difference. Various factors shape habitat quality. In this study we characterize diet as one proxy for habitat quality. GB populations are declining more quickly, therefore we hypothesized that habitat quality would be lower in the GB as compared to the SN populations. Specifically, we predicted that the SN samples would have greater taxonomic diversity and higher nutritional value. We used a DNA metabarcoding approach to characterize diets of pika populations throughout California and Nevada. We analyzed 384 pika fecal samples and identified more than 90 plant genera. There was no significant difference between the SN and GB pika diets in terms of taxonomic diversity. However, diet composition was distinct with few genera shared between the regions. Analysis of whether diets vary in terms of nutritional quality is ongoing.

Jazmine Camacho Servin is a second-year graduate student at San Jose State University. Jazmine has always been interested in pursuing a career that allows her to have an impact on our wildlife species. After graduation, she plans to use her experience with molecular ecology tools to work in wildlife conservation. Jazmine will continue to use molecular ecology tools to understand how the ecology of wildlife species is influenced by climate change and anthropogenic influences. She hopes to use this knowledge to create effective management and conservation plans that will allow for the persistence of our wildlife species.