Metabarcoding diet analysis of snow leopards (<i>Panthera uncia</i>) in Wolong National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province

AbstractLittle is known about the status of the snow leopard Panthera uncia in Qomolangma National Nature Reserve, located on the northern aspect of Mount Everest in Tibet. To address this, during May–September 2014 we conducted line transects, camera trapping, household interviews, and socioeconomic statistics analysis. We surveyed 14 transects and located 287 putative snow leopard signs, with a mean density of 1.9 sign sites km–1, 3.8 signs km–1, and 1.4 scrapes km–1. We set 41 camera traps and recorded a minimum of seven individual snow leopards. Our results were comparable to snow leopard abundance estimates for neighbouring protected areas in Nepal. Semi-structured interviews with 46 (59%) households found that local people were generally supportive of snow leopard conservation, for a variety of economic, legislative, and religious reasons. The socio-economic situation in the Reserve underwent dramatic changes between 2000 and 2014. The human population increased by 28.9%, the livestock population decreased by 9.9%, the number of tourists in 2014 was 6.8 times greater than in 2005, and the local gross domestic product underwent an annual increase of 15%. We discuss the current threats to snow leopards, and recommend that more rigorous, comprehensive, and interdisciplinary research be undertaken to provide an evidential basis for the formulation of effective conservation policies and programmes.

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Diurnal variation in relative photosynthetic performance of marestail (Hippuris vulgaris Linn.) Across a water temperature gradient using PAM fluorometry in Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, China

Journal of Mountain Science ◽

10.1007/s11629-011-2215-3 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 8 (6) ◽

pp. 794-807 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Linan Gao ◽

Ya Tang ◽

Carla Bossard ◽

Yan Wang ◽

Zhiguo Han

Keyword(s):

Temperature Gradient ◽

Diurnal Variation ◽

Water Temperature ◽

Nature Reserve ◽

Photosynthetic Performance ◽

Sichuan Province ◽

Pam Fluorometry ◽

National Nature Reserve ◽

Hippuris Vulgaris

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Status of the mountain ungulate prey of the Endangered snow leopard Panthera uncia in the Tost Local Protected Area, South Gobi, Mongolia

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605314001203 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 214-219 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Lkhagvasumberel Tumursukh ◽

Kulbhushansingh R. Suryawanshi ◽

Charudutt Mishra ◽

Thomas M. McCarthy ◽

Bazartseren Boldgiv

Keyword(s):

Protected Area ◽

Nature Reserve ◽

Camera Trap ◽

Snow Leopard ◽

Wild Ungulates ◽

Mountainous Regions ◽

Demographic Surveys ◽

Snow Leopards ◽

Ovis Ammon ◽

Panthera Uncia

AbstractThe availability of wild prey is a critical predictor of carnivore density. However, few conservation programmes have focused on the estimation and monitoring of wild ungulate populations and their trends, especially in the remote mountains of Central Asia. We conducted double-observer surveys to estimate the populations of ibex Capra sibirica and argali Ovis ammon in the mountainous regions of Tost Local Protected Area, South Gobi province, Mongolia, which is being considered for designation as a Nature Reserve. We also conducted demographic surveys of the more abundant ibex to examine their sex-ratio and the survival of young during 2012–2013. The estimated ibex population remained stable in 2012 and 2013 and the estimated argali population increased from 108 in 2012 to 230 in 2013. The biomass of wild ungulates was c. 6% that of livestock. Mortality in young ibex appeared to increase after weaning, at the age of 12 months. We estimated the population of wild ungulates was sufficient to support 14–18 adult snow leopards Panthera uncia. The adult snow leopard population in our study area during 2012–2013, estimated independently using camera-trap-based mark–recapture methods, was 12–14. Based on our results we identify the Tost Local Protected Area as an important habitat for the conservation of these ungulates and their predator, the Endangered snow leopard, and recommend elevation of its status to a Nature Reserve.

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