Pikaealisusest

Pikaealisusest is a term used in theoretical ecology to describe a proposed feedback process in alpine ecosystems in which the foraging activity of pikas interacts with vegetation dynamics and soil nutrient cycling. In this framework, pika browsing can preferentially reduce certain graminoids and forbs, shifting plant communities toward species with different regrowth rates and nutrient content. The resulting changes in vegetation modify microhabitat conditions, including litter input, soil moisture, and burrow microclimates, which in turn affect pika persistence and plant recovery. Over time, these interactions may stabilize or alter vegetation patterns and influence soil nutrient turnover in the upper horizons.

The name blends the common name pika with a constructed Latin-style suffix to denote a dynamic process. The term emerged in ecological modeling discussions in the 2010s and is used primarily in theoretical or simulation studies rather than as an established empirical field concept.

Pikaealisusest is most often considered in temperate alpine regions of the Northern Hemisphere, where multiple pika species and diverse alpine plant communities coexist. Proposed mechanisms include foraging-driven trait filtering, lagged plant regrowth, increased litter quality, and burrow-induced soil aeration that affects microbial activity. Seasonal and interannual variability can create delayed feedbacks that produce cyclic or quasi-stationary patterns in vegetation and soil properties.

Current evidence for pikaealisusest remains theoretical. Some observational data show patterns compatible with the concept, but there is no definitive field experiment confirming the feedback loop. The concept informs ecosystem resilience studies and climate-change impact modeling by highlighting potential multi-trophic feedbacks in alpine systems.

See also: alpine ecology, trophic interactions.