Prey Behavior Leads to Predator: A Case Study of the Himalayan Tahr and the Snow Leopard in Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park, Nepal

2009 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 315-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Som B. Ale ◽  
Joel S. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Field Studies ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Snow Leopard ◽  
Vigilance Behavior ◽  
Prey Behavior ◽  
Himalayan Tahr ◽  
Snow Leopards ◽  
Small Sample Sizes ◽  
Large Predators

Rare, elusive predators offer few sightings, hindering research with small sample sizes and lack of experimentation. While predators may be elusive, their prey are more readily observed. Prey respond to the presence of a predator, and these fear responses may have population- and community-level consequences. Anti-predator behaviors, such as vigilance, allow us to sidestep the difficulty of direct field studies of large predators by studying them indirectly. Here we used a behavioral indicator, the vigilance behavior of the Himalayan tahr, the snow leopard's main local prey, to reveal the distribution and habitat use of snow leopards in the Mt. Everest region of Nepal. We combined techniques of conventional field biology with concepts of foraging theory to study prey behavior in order to obtain insights into the predator's ecology. The Himalayan tahr's vigilance behavior correlates with the distribution of snow leopard signs. Tahr actually led us to six sightings of snow leopards. We conclude that behavioral indicators provided by prey offer a valuable tool for studying and monitoring stealthy and rare carnivores.

scholarly journals Studying the snow leopard: reconceptualizing conservation across the China–India border

BJHS Themes ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 169-198
Author(s):  
MICHAEL LEWIS ◽  
E. ELENA SONGSTER
Keyword(s):  
Local Communities ◽  
Snow Leopard ◽  
Recent Past ◽  
Conservation Science ◽  
The West ◽  
Ideal Case ◽  
Potential Source ◽  
Snow Leopards

AbstractThe snow leopard is a highly charismatic megafauna that elicits admiration, concern and donations from individuals and NGOs in the West. In its home territories, however, it is a threat to local communities' livestock and a potential source of income for its pelt and parts. Conservation and study are further challenged by its range; snow leopards traverse the borders separating China, India and ten other countries with long histories of tension with each other as well as internal political and economic struggles. This transnational animal provides an ideal case study for the consideration of transnational conservation science in the recent past.

scholarly journals Recovery of snow leopard Uncia uncia in Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) National Park, Nepal

Oryx ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Som B. Ale ◽  
Pralad Yonzon ◽  
Kamal Thapa
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Information Management System ◽  
Snow Leopard ◽  
Mount Everest ◽  
Grazing Land ◽  
System A ◽  
Open Forest ◽  
Hemitragus Jemlahicus ◽  
Himalayan Tahr ◽  
Snow Leopards

From September to November 2004 we conducted surveys of snow leopard Uncia uncia signs in three major valleys in Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) National Park in Nepal using the Snow Leopard Information Management System, a standardized survey technique for snow leopard research. We walked 24 transects covering c. 14 km and located 33 sites with 56 snow leopard signs, and 17 signs incidentally in other areas. Snow leopards appear to have re-inhabited the Park, following their disappearance c. 40 years ago, apparently following the recovery of Himalayan tahr Hemitragus jemlahicus and musk deer Moschus chrysogaster populations. Taken together the locations of all 73 recent snow leopard signs indicate that the species is using predominantly grazing land and shrubland/open forest at elevations of 3,000–5,000 m, habitat types that are also used by domestic and wild ungulates. Sagarmatha is the homeland of c. 3,500 Buddhist Sherpas with >3,000 livestock. Along with tourism and associated developments in Sagarmatha, traditional land use practices could be used to ensure coexistence of livestock and wildlife, including the recovering snow leopards, and ensure the wellbeing of the Sherpas.

scholarly journals Abundance of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and its wild prey in Chhekampar VDC, Manaslu Conservation Area, Nepal

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. P. Devkota ◽  
T. Silwal ◽  
B. P. Shrestha ◽  
A. P. Sapkota ◽  
S. P. Lakhey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prey Species ◽  
Religious Tradition ◽  
Information Management System ◽  
Encounter Rate ◽  
Snow Leopard ◽  
Conservation Area ◽  
Blue Sheep ◽  
Himalayan Tahr ◽  
Snow Leopards ◽  
Panthera Uncia

Snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is the striking symbol as well as an indicator of intact eco-regions of high mountains it inhabits. Despite the advancement in new methods, scholars argue that signs are still a reliable indicator for the purpose of habitat use study of snow leopards. The relative abundance of snow leopard and its major prey species such as blue sheep (Pseudois nayar) and Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) in the Chhekampar Village Development Committee within the Tsum Valley of the Manaslu Conservation Area was determined by sign survey using Snow Leopard Information Management System (SLIMS) and block survey using Vantage Point Method, respectively. We also assessed human snow leopard conflict through household and key informant survey. The encounter rate of snow leopard signs were 3.57/km on an average, indicating low abundance, whereas prey species such as blue sheep and Himalayan tahr had 3.8 and 1.8 animals/km2, respectively. The livestock depredation rate was 1.29% with snow leopard accounting to only 0.32% of the total. Due to the low abundance of snow leopard but sufficient number of large-sized wild prey species, livestock predation by snow leopard was minimum, and therefore, the local people had positive perception towards snow leopard conservation. Though the present situation including the local religious tradition and social norms is supportive in conservation of snow leopard, it may not sustain unless incentive programs are encouraged timely.Banko Janakari, Vol. 27, No. 1, Page : 11-20

scholarly journals Molecular approaches for a better understanding of the epidemiology and population genetics ofLeishmania

Parasitology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 138 (4) ◽  
pp. 405-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. SCHÖNIAN ◽  
K. KUHLS ◽  
I. L. MAURICIO
Keyword(s):  
Gold Standard ◽  
Population Genetic ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Molecular Approaches ◽  
Sexual Recombination ◽  
Small Sample Sizes ◽  
Analytical Tools

SUMMARYMolecular approaches are being used increasingly for epidemiological studies of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases. Several molecular markers resolving genetic differences betweenLeishmaniaparasites at species and strain levels have been developed to address key epidemiological and population genetic questions. The current gold standard, multilocus enzyme typing (MLEE), needs cultured parasites and lacks discriminatory power. PCR assays identifying species directly with clinical samples have proven useful in numerous field studies. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) is potentially the most powerful phylogenetic approach and will, most probably, replace MLEE in the future. Multilocus microsatellite typing (MLMT) is able to discriminate below the zymodeme level and seems to be the best candidate for becoming the gold standard for distinction of strains. Population genetic studies by MLMT revealed geographical and hierarchic population structure inL. tropica, L. majorand theL. donovanicomplex. The existence of hybrids and gene flow betweenLeishmaniapopulations suggests that sexual recombination is more frequent than previously thought. However, typing and analytical tools need to be further improved. Accessible databases should be created and sustained for integrating data obtained by different researchers. This would allow for global analyses and help to avoid biases in analyses due to small sample sizes.

DO ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECT THE TAXONOMIC RELIABILITY OF LEAF CUTICULAR MICROMORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS? A CASE STUDY IN PODOCARPACEAE

2017 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. R. Clugston ◽  
C. E. Jeffree ◽  
A. Ahrends ◽  
R. R. Mill
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
First Record ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Sample Sizes ◽  
Small Sample Sizes ◽  
Micromorphological Characters ◽  
Multiple Samples ◽  
The Relationship

Leaf cuticle micromorphology has been cited as an important set of taxonomic characters in gymnosperms, but previous studies have largely been based on small sample sizes. The premise of this study was to understand whether external factors affect cuticular micromorphology of Podocarpaceae. Two example species, Prumnopitys andina and Podocarpus salignus, were studied. Of 21 sampled characters, nine (c.43% of the total) were visually assessed as being moderately reliable or highly reliable for taxonomic discrimination for both species, with an additional six (c.29%) being moderately reliable or highly reliable for only one or other of the example species, and six characters (c.29%) unreliable for both. Seven of the most variable stomatal characters were selected for further analysis to establish whether environmental factors affect them. The relationship between these seven stomatal characters, the environment and climate was analysed using the R ‘vegan’ package and climate data gathered from WorldClim. Our results showed that both species had larger stomata in moist and shady conditions, and a higher density of (smaller) stomata in sunny and drier conditions. An additional novel finding was the presence of stomata on the adaxial leaf surface in 46% of samples of Prumnopitys andina: the first record of adaxial stomata in this species, highlighting the necessity of studying multiple samples of a given species. In conclusion, these results indicate that larger sample sizes than have hitherto been employed in cuticle micromorphological studies are necessary to fully document the amount of phenotypic variation that exists.

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