Marmota himalayana is an endemic species of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and an important part of its ecosystem, which plays a significant role in maintaining the ecological balance of the natural foci of plague. The distribution of marmots is influenced by environmental factors such as climate, soil, and vegetation, thereby determining the distribution and changes of natural plague foci and the risk of associated plague epizootics. In other words, the distribution of geographical landscape elements and the main host animals of plague play a decisive role in the distribution area of natural plague foci. Ecological research on M. himalayana has been widely reported. This paper reviews the research status in China and globally from the aspects of ecological, burrow, and habitat characteristics of M. himalayana, with the aim to improve the understanding of M. himalayana ecology and promote the application of ecology in plague prevention and control.

Objective To investigate the species composition,host selection,and distribution of ectoparasitic fleas on small mammals in Haidong,Qinghai Province,China based on plague foci surveillance data,and to identify the species of some common fleas and difficult-to-identify fleas by molecular method to find a way that can improve the accuracy of flea species identification and classification. Methods Flea species was identified by traditional morphological classification and molecular identification based on of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit Ⅰ (COⅠ) gene. Results A total of 61 species (subspecies) of ectoparasitic fleas were found and recorded in Haidong,belonging to 28 genera,5 families,and 4 superfamilies. The partial fragments (about 658 bp) of the COⅠ gene were sequenced for 99 fleas of 20 species under 13 genera and 4 families. The intraspecific and interspecific genetic distances were 0.2%-2.9% and 3.3%-22.9%, respectively. The interspecific distance was significantly greater than the intraspecific distance. Conclusion The flea species formed single lineages with support values greater than 99% in the phylogenetic tree,indicating that the combination of COⅠgene characterization and traditional morphological classification can accurately identify flea species in Haidong.

The flea collections from Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture were identified and their geographical distribution was mapped. In total, 88 species (subspecies), belonging to 6 families and 29 genera were recorded, among which 44, 45, 50, 18 and 19 species (subspecies) were collected from the counties of Gonghe, Xinghai, Guinan, Guide and Tongde, respectively. The findings from the current paper are helpful to understand the flea fauna and management of flea- borne diseases in Hainan prefecture, Qinghai province.

Objective To understand the situation of people about the plague knowledge and analyze its influencing factors in Yushu after the earthquake, then to provide a reference for Yushu post?disaster plague control and prevention. Methods There were 294 persons consisting of students, cadres, pastoralists and migrant workers from 9 towns of Yushu who were extracted by the method of stratified cluster random sampling. Then the awareness situation of the population about plague was surveyed through the questionnaire and interview. Results The average rate of plague awareness of the respondents was 77.89% (229/294). The awareness rate of the sampled students was 93.81% (91/97), the awareness of the local pastoralists was 80.95% (51/63), the awareness of the local cadres was 74.55% (41/55), the awareness of the migrant workers was 58.23% (46/79). Multiple factors analysis displayed that the age, occupation, cultural level and the source region of the population is the influence factors to their plague awareness situation. Conclusion The plague awareness rate of the migrant workers for post?disaster reconstruction in Yushu is lowest, which increases the risk of plague long distance spread to the world. So the plague propaganda and education of the population for the post?disaster reconstruction in Yushu should be strengthened.

Objective To study the distribution pattern of rodents in Qinghai province, China. Methods The data on 45 species of rodents, belonging to 9 families and 2 orders, were retrieved. The Ward's method was used for cluster analysis of rodents in each physical geographical unit of Qinghai. Results The rodents in Qinghai were clustered into two groups. The rodents from Qiangtang Plateau and Guoluo Yushu Plateau were clustered into a new group at a distance coefficient of 0.13, and the rodents from mountains north to Qinghai Lake, mountainous unit of Huangnan, Huangshui Valley, Qaidam Basin, and Qilian Mountains in Qinghai were clustered into a new group at a distance coefficient of 0.21. Conclusion The clustering results show interrelation between rodents and environment in different geographical units.

Objective To study the spatial niches of rodents in Geermu area of Qinghai province, China. Methods The rodent communities in four habitats in Geermu area were studied using Shannon-Wiener niche breadth index and Pianka's niche overlap index. Results Of the 12 species of captured rodents, Ochotona curzoniae had the highest niche breadth (0.5486), followed by Pitymys leucurus (0.4930) and P. irene (0.4591); Phodopus roborovskii, Eolagurus luteus, Rattus norvegicus, Microtus oeconomus, Mus musculus, Dipus sagitta and Euchoreutes naso had the lowest niche breadths, with an approximate value of 0. Among the 12 species of rodents, the highest niche overlap was 1, and the lowest niche overlap was 0. Conclusion There are small differences in niche breadth between the species of rodents among the dominant species or non-dominant ones, respectively in Geermu area. The rodent species with a total niche overlap show similarities in biological characteristics and ecological adaptability, while those without niche overlap are different in the use of natural resources, demonstrating no competition in resource utilization.

Objective To update the information on the species of ectoparasitic fleas on small mammals in Gonghe county, Qinghai province, China. Methods Small mammals were captured by night trapping method, and ectoparasitic fleas were collected from them. The slide specimens of fleas were made, and these fleas were classified and identified based on morphological characteristics. Results A total of 785 ectoparasitic fleas (13 species, 8 genera, 3 families) were collected from small mammals in Gonghe county. Conclusion Neopsylla bidentatiformis (Wagner, 1883) is a new record in Qinghai province.

Objective To investigate the faunal characteristics of rodent community in Haidong area of Qinghai province. Methods The night trap method was used to determine the quantity of rodent populations at different habitats in this area as the basis for ecological analysis. Results A total of 427 rodents were captured in Haidong area, which belonged to 15 species, 6 families and 2 orders, including 82 rodents of 7 species in mixed conifer forests with a capture rate of 3.90%; 112 rodents of 6 species in forest edge scrubs with a capture rate of 4.53%; 77 rodents of 7 species in alpine shrubs with a capture rate of 3.35%; 95 rodents of 7 species in alpine grasslands with a capture rate of 2.94%; and 61 rodents of 9 species in residential farmlands with a capture rate of 2.60%. The highest biomass (35.95) of rodent community was observed in alpine grasslands, followed by that in forest edge scrubs (34.70) and lowest in alpine shrubs (21.59). The fatness of Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus peaked in residential farmlands at 5.18 and 4.05, respectively; the fatness of Cricetulus longicaudatus peaked in alpine grasslands at 3.80; and the fatness of Apodemus peninsulae peaked in forest edge scrubs at 2.97. The biomass and fatness of one species varied and diversified in characteristics at different habitats. Conclusion The faunal composition of rodent populations is complicated in Haidong area of Qinghai province. Upcoming anti-rodent work should be focused on reducing the density of predominant species and preventing the occurrence of rodent infestation.

【Abstract】 Objective To know the species and distributions of carnivores and small mammals in Sanjiangyuan area. Methods The investigation was done by the night trap. Results There were many carnivores and small mammals in San jiang yuan, belonging to 4 orders, 11 Familys, 27 Genera and 51 species. Conclusion Marmota himalayana, Microtus oeconomus, Mus musculus, Cricetulus longicaudatus, Ochotona curzoniae, Felis catus, Canis familiaris, Vulpes vulpes, Vulpes corsac, Canis upus,Mustela eversmanni distributed widely  in Sanjiangyuan Area. Marmota himalayana was the main host of nature plague foci in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau.

【Abstract】 This paper briefly discusses the biology and ecological characteristics of host animals and vectors infected naturally by Yersinia pestis district and the time and location of first isolation in Sanjiangyuan. It is to understand the species of animals and vectors infected and the function they plays in the plague epidemiology in order to provide the basis for the prevention and control of plague in Sanjiangyuan.

【Abstract】 Objective To know the distribution of flea, tick and louse and their natural infection situation at Sanjiangyuan Tanggula district of Qinghai. Methods The epizoite insects from the small animals captured in the plague foci were collected, and then classify and identify them respectively. Results There were 40 species of flea, tick and louse belonging to 20 genus, 8 families and 3 orders, including 36 species 17 genus and 5 families of fleas, 1 specie 1 genus and 1 family of ticks and 3 specie 1 genus and 1 family of louses, which were deposited in Qinghai Institute for endemic disease prevention and control. Only three species of fleas were infected by plague in 13 species of Marmota himalayana, and they were  Oropsylla  silantiewi  and  Callopsylla  dolabris and  Amphipsylla  primaris  primaries.  The  plague  was  also  isolated  from M.himalayana?a kind of epizoite louse parasitized M.himalayanus. Conclusion Strengthen the research on vector control in this district, and provide the service for the control of plague.