scholarly journals Status of wild Bactrian camels and other large ungulates in south-western Mongolia

Oryx ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 247-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard P. Reading ◽  
Henry Mix ◽  
Badamjaviin Lhagvasuren ◽  
Evan S. Blumer
Keyword(s):  
Aerial Survey ◽  
Population Modelling ◽  
Conservation Implications ◽  
Western Mongolia ◽  
Equus Hemionus ◽  
Marked Decline ◽  
Bactrian Camels ◽  
Group Density ◽  
Ovis Ammon ◽  
Gazella Subgutturosa

AbstractWild Bactrian camels Camelus bactrianus ferus are endangered. Surveys over the past several decades suggest a marked decline in camel numbers and reproductive success. However, most surveys were made using methods that precluded rigorous population estimation. The need for more accurate surveys resulted in an aerial survey of known and suspected camel habitat in Mongolia during March 1997. We estimated density, group density and population size of large mammals in south-western Mongolia using the interactive computer program DISTANCE. We recorded sufficient data for population modelling of wild Bactrian camels, goitred gazelles Gazella subgutturosa, Asian wild asses Equus hemionus and argali sheep Ovis ammon. We observed 277 camels in 27 groups (mean group size = 10.26 ± 2.38 SE camels/group). Modelling yielded a population estimate of 1985 ± 802 SE camels in the survey area. Population modelling for other ungulates yielded estimates of 6046 ± 1398 SE goitred gazelles, 1674 ± 506 SE Asian wild asses and 909 ± 303 SE argalis. Discrepancies between population estimates of ungulates in our survey and previous surveys are discussed with regard to methods used and robustness of results obtained. We also discuss conservation implications for wild Bactrian camels and other Mongolian ungulates.

scholarly journals Mongolian Gobi supports the world's largest populations of khulan Equus hemionus and goitered gazelles Gazella subgutturosa

Oryx ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 639-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Buuveibaatar ◽  
S. Strindberg ◽  
P. Kaczensky ◽  
J. Payne ◽  
B. Chimeddorj ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Distance Sampling ◽  
Aerial Survey ◽  
Desert Ecosystem ◽  
Gobi Desert ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Abundance Estimates ◽  
Equus Hemionus ◽  
The Status ◽  
Wild Ass ◽  
Gazella Subgutturosa

AbstractMongolia's Gobi Desert ecosystem, a stronghold for populations of the Asiatic wild ass (khulan) Equus hemionus and the goitered gazelle Gazella subgutturosa, faces conservation challenges as a result of rapid economic development, including mining-related infrastructure projects. There is a paucity of reliable data on population abundance for these ungulates in the region, which makes it difficult to assess how they are responding to increasing anthropogenic pressure. Our aim was to obtain abundance estimates for khulan and goitered gazelles to inform their management and form the basis of a long-term monitoring programme. Each year during 2012–2015 we surveyed a total of 64 line transects spaced 20 km apart, with a total of 3,464 km of survey effort across 78,717 km2. Distance sampling analysis provided annual estimates of density and abundance, which were cross-referenced with the results of an aerial survey conducted in 2013. Overall, we observed 784 groups (14,608 individuals) of khulan and 1,033 groups (3,955 individuals) of goitered gazelles during the four surveys. The abundance estimates for 2013 were 35,899 (95% CI 22,680–40,537) khulan and 28,462 (95% CI 21,326–37,987) goitered gazelles. These estimates were congruent with the results from the aerial survey, which overlapped spatially and temporally with our ground-based survey. Our findings confirm that Mongolia's Gobi Desert supports the largest population of khulan and goitered gazelles in the world, and we provide a critical update on the status of the two species.

scholarly journals Status of wild Bactrian camels and other large ungulates in south-western Mongolia

Oryx ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 33 (03) ◽  
pp. 247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard P. Reading ◽  
Henry Mix ◽  
Badamjaviin Lhagvasuren ◽  
Evan S. Blumer
Keyword(s):  
Western Mongolia ◽  
Bactrian Camels

scholarly journals Argali Ovis ammon surveys in Mongolia's South Gobi

Oryx ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 285-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard P. Reading ◽  
Sukhiin Amgalanbaatar ◽  
Henry Mix ◽  
Badamjaviin Lhagvasuren
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Aerial Survey ◽  
Distinct Population ◽  
Aerial Surveys ◽  
Ground Survey ◽  
Domestic Livestock ◽  
Wild Sheep ◽  
Mean Size ◽  
Estimate Population Size ◽  
Ovis Ammon

The argali, Ovis ammon, a species of wild sheep, is threatened in Mongolia, suffering from poaching and competition with domestic livestock. The authors conducted ground and aerial surveys of argali in Dundgobi, Omnogobi and Dornogobi aimags (or provinces) of the South Gobi region of Mongolia. Ground surveys were conducted by vehicle and on foot, while aerial surveys were conducted using two Soviet AN-2 aircraft flying 40-km parallel transects. The interactive computer programme Distance was used to estimate population size and density. The authors observed a total of 423 argali in 85 groups (mean group size = 5.0 ± 0.6 SE), including 300 individuals in 61 groups on the ground survey (mean size = 4.9 ± 0.8 SE) and 123 animals in 24 groups during the aerial survey (mean size = 5.1 ± 1.2 SE). Population structure of the groups observed during the ground survey was 14.3 per cent males, 53.3 per cent females, 19.7 per cent lambs, and 12.7 per cent animals of undetermined sex (means = 0.7 ± 0.2 SE males, 2.6 ± 0.6 SE females, 1.0 ± 0.2 SE lambs, and 0.6 ± 0.4 SE undetermined). We estimated a population size of 3900 ± 1132 SE argali in the study area for a population density of 0.0187 ± 0.0054 SE animals/sq km. More rigorous and comprehensive surveys for argali, preferably for each distinct population, should be conducted for more accurate estimates. Argali require more active conservation and management, especially with respect to poaching and competition with domestic livestock. If sport hunting is to continue, a large portion of all money

scholarly journals Genetic variation at the species and population levels in the Rocky Mountain ridged mussel (Gonidea angulata)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen E. Mock ◽  
James A. Walton ◽  
Steven F. R. Brownlee ◽  
Jon H. Mageroy ◽  
Greg Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Microsatellite Loci ◽  
Freshwater Mussels ◽  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Host Fish ◽  
Conservation Implications ◽  
Northern Edge ◽  
Marked Decline ◽  
Conservation Concern

AbstractFreshwater mussels in western North America are threatened by water diversions, climate change, loss of required host fish, and other factors, and have experienced marked decline in the past several decades. All four of the primary lineages (potentially species) of freshwater mussels in the western U.S. and Canada are widespread and have somewhat generalist host fish requirements. Of these lineages, perhaps the most poorly understood and of greatest conservation concern is Gonidea angulata (Rocky Mountain ridged mussel). Gonidea is a monotypic genus occurring only in the western continental U.S. and southern Canada. Here we describe the patterns of genetic variation across the species range, including several populations in the Okanagan Valley at the northern edge of the range. We detected only ten mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I haplotypes, three of which ere commonly found across major hydrologic basins, and the remainder of which were basin-specific variants. Haplotypes differed by a maximum of 5 of 537 nucleotides. New microsatellite loci were developed for G. angulata as a part of this study. Data from these microsatellite loci indicated that the population in the Chehalis River, Washington, was distinct from other locations, and that the Okanagan lake population was somewhat diverged from the remaining populations in the Columbia River and Klamath Lake. Only low levels of inbreeding were detected, in contrast to previous findings in Margartifera falcata, suggesting that hermaphroditism is not common. The population with the least diversity, according to microsatellite data, was the northernmost known population in Okanagan Lake We discuss the biogeographic and conservation implications of our findings.

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