Status of the mountain ungulate prey of the Endangered snow leopard Panthera uncia in the Tost Local Protected Area, South Gobi, Mongolia (original) (raw)
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Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 2019
Studies of the distribution, assessment of the Snow leopard population, as well as the state of the populations of its main prey species, the impact of anthropogenic factors are the basis for the development of long-term and effective action plans and strategies for its conservation. To this end, we have carried out work on three different territories of the Mongolian Altai: Jargalant, Bumbat and Baatar Khairkhan Mountains. All three territories differ in the nature of the location in relation to other parts of the Snow leopard's range, and in the nature of the relief and economic use. The main method of research is the search and registration of traces of life activity of the Snow leopard and its main prey species (Mongolian marmot and Siberian ibex). For this purpose, we have passed 18 research routes with a total length of 197.5 km where we recorded all traces of the Snow leopard, Siberian ibex and Mongolian marmot life activities, as well as the distribution of the number of livestock. Another research method we have used is the application of camera traps. We installed 27 camera traps in total. As a result of their work we have obtained 51 photo location of the Snow leopard and identified at least 3 females, 2-3 adult males, 2-3 young individuals, the sex of which could not be established, including individuals aged about 2 years, 2 cubs. Both methods of research (search for traces of life activities and the application of camera traps) complement each other, and the correct use of camera traps can reduce the subjectivity of the results obtained by the search for traces of life activities. Thus, the reliability of the results is significantly increased. Our studies show that the largest number of traces of Snow leopard activity (the number of scrapes per 1 km of the route) and the largest number of photo locations were recorded in the central part of the Jargalant khairkhan mountain range-the territory that is the most remote and inaccessible for grazing livestock. In this territory, the highest frequency of Snow leopard presence was noted (20-40 scratches/km), and accordingly 5 from 11 identified snow leopards were registered. A similar pattern of distribution of traces of vital activity was registered for the other two territories.
Population monitoring programmes and estimation of vital rates are key to understanding the mechanisms of population growth, decline or stability, and are important for effective conservation action. We report, for the first time, the population trends and vital rates of the endangered snow leopard based on camera trapping over four years in the Tost Mountains, South Gobi, Mongolia. We used robust design multi-season mark-recapture analysis to estimate the trends in abundance, sex ratio, survival probability and the probability of temporary emigration and immigration for adult and young snow leopards. The snow leopard population remained constant over most of the study period, with no apparent growth (l = 1.08+20.25). Comparison of model results with the ''known population'' of radio-collared snow leopards suggested high accuracy in our estimates. Although seemingly stable, vigorous underlying dynamics were evident in this population, with the adult sex ratio shifting from being male-biased to female-biased (1.67 to 0.38 males per female) during the study. Adult survival probability was 0.82 (SE+20.08) and that of young was 0.83 (SE+20.15) and 0.77 (SE +20.2) respectively, before and after the age of 2 years. Young snow leopards showed a high probability of temporary emigration and immigration (0.6, SE +20.19 and 0.68, SE +20.32 before and after the age of 2 years) though not the adults (0.02 SE+20.07). While the current female-bias in the population and the number of cubs born each year seemingly render the study population safe, the vigorous dynamics suggests that the situation can change quickly. The reduction in the proportion of male snow leopards may be indicative of continuing anthropogenic pressures. Our work reiterates the importance of monitoring both the abundance and population dynamics of species for effective conservation.
Preliminary results of a long-term study of snow leopards in South Gobi, Mongolia
Snow leopards Panthera uncia are under threat across their range and require urgent conservation actions based on sound science. However, their remote habitat and cryptic nature make them inherently difficult to study and past attempts have provided insufficient information upon which to base effective conservation. Further, there has been no statistically-reliable and cost-effective method available to monitor snow leopard populations, focus conservation effort on key populations, or assess conservation impacts. To address these multiple information needs, Panthera, Snow Leopard Trust, and Snow Leopard Conservation Fund, launched an ambitious long-term study in Mongolia’s South Gobi province in 2008. To date, 10 snow leopards have been fitted with GPS-satellite collars to provide information on basic snow leopard ecology. Using 2,443 locations we calculated MCP home ranges of 150 – 938 km2, with substantial overlap between individuals. Exploratory movements outside typical snow leo...
Oecologia, 2012
Mountain ungulates around the world have been threatened by illegal hunting, habitat modiWcation, increased livestock grazing, disease and development. Mountain ungulates play an important functional role in grasslands as primary consumers and as prey for wild carnivores, and monitoring of their populations is important for conservation purposes. However, most of the several currently available methods of estimating wild ungulate abundance are either diYcult to implement or too expensive for mountainous terrain. A rigorous method of sampling ungulate abundance in mountainous areas that can allow for some measure of sampling error is therefore much needed. To this end, we used a combination of Weld data and computer simulations to test the critical assumptions associated with double-observer technique based on capture-recapture theory. The technique was modiWed and adapted to estimate the populations of bharal (Pseudois nayaur) and ibex (Capra sibirica) at Wve diVerent sites. Conducting the two double-observer surveys simultaneously led to underestimation of the population by 15%. We therefore recommend separating the surveys in space or time. The overall detection probability for the two observers was 0.74 and 0.79. Our surveys estimated mountain ungulate populations ( §95% conWdence interval) of 735 ( §44), 580 ( §46), 509 ( §53), 184 ( §40) and 30 ( §14) individuals at the Wve sites, respectively. A detection probability of 0.75 was found to be suYcient to detect a change of 20% in populations of >420 individuals. Based on these results, we believe that this method is suYciently precise for scientiWc and conservation purposes and therefore recommend the use of the double-observer approach (with the two surveys separated in time or space) for the estimation and monitoring of mountain ungulate populations.
Oryx, 2015
There is a need for simple and robust techniques for assessment and monitoring of populations of the Endangered snow leopardPanthera unciato inform the development of action plans for snow leopard conservation. We explored the use of occupancy modelling to evaluate the influence of environmental and anthropogenic features on snow leopard site-use patterns. We conducted a camera trap survey across 480 km2in Gansu Province, China, and used data from 60 camera traps to estimate probabilities of site use and detection using the single season occupancy model. We assessed the influence of three covariates on site use by snow leopards: elevation, the presence of blue sheepPseudois nayaurand the presence of human disturbance (distance to roads). We recorded 76 captures of snow leopards over 2,906 trap-days, representing a mean capture success of 2.62 captures per 100 trap-days. Elevation had the strongest influence on site use, with the probability of site use increasing with altitude, wher...
Movements and activities of snow leopards in Southwestern Mongolia
Biological Conservation, 2005
Four adult (2M:2F) snow leopards (Uncia uncia) were radio-monitored (VHF; one also via satellite) year-round during 1994–1997 in the Altai Mountains of southwestern Mongolia where prey densities (i.e., ibex, Capra siberica) were relatively low (∼0.9/km2). Marked animals were more active at night (51%) than during the day (35%). Within the study area, marked leopards showed strong affinity for steep and
Status and conservation of the snow leopard Panthera uncia in Api Nampa Conservation Area, Nepal
Oryx, 2018
The snow leopard Panthera uncia is globally threatened and reliable information on its abundance, distribution and prey species is a prerequisite for its conservation. In October-November we assessed the distribution of the snow leopard in the recently established Api Nampa Conservation Area in the Nepal Himalayas. Within selected blocks we conducted sign surveys and counted the number of bharal Pseudois nayaur, its principal wild prey, along transects totalling km. We recorded putative snow leopard signs at an encounter rate of . signs/km. Generalized linear models of the number of signs detected per transect showed that elevation had a positive influence and human activities a negative influence on sign encounter rate; prey abundance had only a weak positive influence on sign encounter rate. Within the effectively surveyed area of c. km , we counted bharal at an estimated density of . animals/km . Recruitment of bharal was low, estimated at kids/ adult females, most likely a result of poor or overgrazed rangeland. We estimate the total number of bharal in this conservation area to be. ,, a prey base that could sustain - snow leopards. Based on our field observations, we identified human disturbance and habitat degradation associated with extraction of non-timber forest products, livestock grazing, and poaching as the main threats to the snow leopard. Standardized sign surveys, preferably supplemented by sampling with remote cameras or with genetic analysis of scats would provide robust baseline information on the abundance of snow leopards in this conservation area.
Theriologia Ukrainica
Using species distribution modelling to guide survey efforts of the Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) in the Central Kyrgyz Ala-Too region.-V. Tytar, T. Asykulov, M. Hammer.-Listed as Vulnerable (IUCN 2017), the snow leopard is declining across much of its present range. One of the major reasons for the snow leopard population decline in the last two decades is a reduction in large prey species that are the cornerstone of the conservation of the snow leopard; in the Central Kyrgyz Ala-Too region such species is primarily the Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica). Understanding factors affecting basic requirement of ibex and shaping its distribution is essential for protecting the prey species snow leopards rely on the most. Using a niche modelling approach we explored which environmental features are best associated with ibex occurrence, how well do models predict ibex occurrence, and does the potential distribution of highly suitable ibex habitat correlate with records of snow leopard. A PC analysis was used to capture aspects of ibex ecology and niche. Results of such analysis agree with the herbivore character of the species and bioclimatic habitat requirements of the vegetation it feeds upon, richer in flatter areas, and where plants may benefit from more sunlight. The niche model based on maximum entropy (Maxent) had "useful" discrimination abilities (AUC = 0.746), enabling to produce a map, where a contour line is drawn around areas of highly predicted probability (> 0.5) of ibex occurrence. In terms of nature conservation planning and setting snow leopard research priorities these areas represent the most interest. With one outlier, most of snow leopard records made in the study area (n = 15) fell within the 10 percentile presence threshold (0.368). Predicted probability of ibex occurrence in places where records were made of snow leopard presence (pugmarks, scrapes etc.) was 0.559 expectedly suggesting areas of high ibex habitat suitability attract the predator.
Check List, 2019
Studies on mammal diversity and distribution are an important source to develop conservation and management strategies. The area located in southern Mongolia, encompassing the Alashan Plateau Semi-Desert and the Eastern Gobi Desert-Steppe ecoregions, is considered strategic for the conservation of threatened species. We surveyed the nonvolant mammals in the Small Gobi-A Strictly Protected Area (SPA) and its surroundings, by using camera trapping, live trapping, and occasional sightings. We recorded 18 mammal species belonging to 9 families and 6 orders. Among them, 4 are globally threatened or near-threatened, 2 are included in the CITES Appendix I, and 2 are listed in the Appendix II. Moreover, we provide the southeasternmost record for the Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) in Mongolia, supported by photographic evidence. Our study highlights the importance of this protected area to preserve rare, threatened, and elusive species.
Check List, 2019
Studies on mammal diversity and distribution are an important source to develop conservation and management strategies. The area located in southern Mongolia, encompassing the Alashan Plateau Semi-Desert and the Eastern Gobi Desert-Steppe ecoregions, is considered strategic for the conservation of threatened species. We surveyed the non-volant mammals in the Small Gobi-A Strictly Protected Area (SPA) and its surroundings, by using camera trapping, live trapping, and occasional sightings. We recorded 18 mammal species belonging to 9 families and 6 orders. Among them, 4 are globally threatened or near-threatened, 2 are included in the CITES Appendix I, and 2 are listed in the Appendix II. Moreover, we provide the southeasternmost record for the Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) in Mongolia, supported by photographic evidence. Our study highlights the importance of this protected area to preserve rare, threatened, and elusive species.