Method for evaluating the effects of plateau pika disturbance on the value of alpine meadow ecosystem services

The relationship between plateau pika disturbance and the value of alpine meadow ecosystem services can be used to comprehensively evaluate the status and role of plateau pika in an alpine meadow ecosystem. In this study, the effects of plateau pika disturbance on the ecosystem service values of alpine meadows–including livestock food production, water conservation, carbon sequestration, soil nutrient cycling, and biodiversity maintenance–were evaluated simultaneously based on the value equivalent factor per unit area and the service function price per unit area to determine the appropriate method for evaluating the effect of pika on the value of alpine meadow ecosystem services. The results showed that plateau pika disturbance decreased livestock food production and water conservation. Using the value equivalent factor per unit area showed that plateau pika disturbance decreased carbon sequestration, soil nutrient cycling, and biodiversity maintenance; however, using the service function price per unit area showed that the same increased carbon sequestration, soil nutrient cycling, and biodiversity maintenance. These results indicated that value equivalent factor per unit area and service function price per unit area both converged and diverged in terms of how they evaluated the effect of plateau pika disturbance on the value of alpine meadow ecosystem services. By analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of the two methods to assess ecosystem service values, this study found that service function price per unit area was more suitable to reflect the effect of plateau pika disturbance on the former in terms of alpine meadow ecosystems.