Экология горного барана (Ovis ammon) в заказнике “их нарт”, Монголия Текст научной статьи по специальности «Биологические науки»

УДК 599.73(517.3)

© С. Амгаланбаатар, Р.П. Ридинг, Ц.З. Доржиев Экология горного барана {OVISAMMON) в заказнике “Их Нарт”, Монголия

Приведены результаты исследований по экологии горного барана (аргали) в заказнике “Их нарт” в Монголии и обоснована необходимость продолжения непрерывного слежения за состоянием его популяции.

Ключевые слова: горный баран (Ovis ammon), заказник “Их нарт”, экология, мониторинг.

S. Amgalanbaatar, R.P. Reading, Ts.Z. Dorzhiev

The Ecology of Argali in “Ikh Nart” Nature Reserve, Mongolia

This article presents the results of research on argali ecology in Ikh Nart nature reserve in Mongolia. The necessity ofcontinuous monitoring the state of its population has been substantiated.

Keywords: argali (Ovis ammon), Ikh Nart nature reserve, home range, monitoring.

Study Area

We conducted our field in “Ikh nart” Nature Reserve, located in northwestern Domogobi Aimag, Mongolia. Ikh Nart was established in 1996 to protect 66,760 ha of rocky outcrops and its wildlife on the northern edge of the Gobi [4]. The region is a high upland (-1,200 m) covered by semi-arid steppe vegetation.

Methods

We used drive nets, hand captures of neonatal lambs, and darting to capture animals for radio telemetry. We only briefly describe each method here; for more detail see [5, 6]. We darted argali using Pneu-Dart® rifles with telescopic or red dot scopes and .50 caliber type C Pneu-Dart darts with barbed needles.

All radio collars were equipped with mortality switches.

We tracked collared argali throughout the year using a traditional receiver, antenna, and global positioning system (GPS) and binoculars or spotting scopes to sight animals at a distance and thus avoid influencing movements. Followed the guidelines proposed by Thompson et al. (1998) for distance sampling on line transect surveys.

We collected data on vegetation consumed, fecal composition, and plant digestibility and nutritional content for argali and domestic sheep and goats (hereafter shoats) to assess the degree of dietary overlap and selection forage [7].

We examined plant availability during each season by establishing 100 random Daubenmire plots (1 m x 1 m) [2] within the study area.

We incorporated telemetry data into a geographic information system (GIS) for analyses.

We used the Spatial Analyst and Animal Movement extensions for ArcView 3.2® to determine 100% minimum convex polygon (MCP) and adaptive kernel (hereafter kernel) home ranges for all animals with >15 independent locations (i.e., 1 location/day) over 90 or more days.

Results & Discussion

Home Range & Movement Patterns.

From 2000-2005, we captured and radio collared 74 argali in Ikh Nart.

Of these, 68.9% (n = 51) were lambs and 58.1% (n = 43) were hand captures of neonatal lambs. From November 2000 to December 2005, we collected radio telemetry locations on argali sheep in Ikh Nart and the surrounding area. We recently analyzed and published data through May, 2004 (some 1,042 telemetry locations) [5, 6].

Yearly home range sizes neared an asymptote after we recorded greater than about 35 fixes on different days for 100% MCP, 95% kernel, and, to a lesser extent, 75% kernel home ranges for argali in Ikh Nart.

The 50% kernel home ranges remained almost constant beginning with just 15 fixes. As such, for most analyses we used only animals for which we had >35 fixes each year.

Although we collared our first argali in late 2000, we did not refine our capture techniques until late 2002 (drive nets) and early 2003 (lamb captures). As such, most our data comes from animals monitored subsequent to 2002 and primarily 2004-2005. In 2004 we monitored 27 argali for an average of 196.9 ±20.1 days, collecting telemetry data on an average of 30.7 ±3.0 days (Table 1).

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Figure 1. Kernel Home Ranges (95%, 75%, 50%, and 25%) for 17 Radio Collared Argali (Ovis ammon) in Ikh Nartiin Chuluu Nature Reserve, Mongolia, 2000-2004. Data based on 1 location/day only.

Table 1. Home range sizes (km ) of argali sheep (Ovis ammon) in Ikh Nartiin Chuluu Nature Reserve, Mongolia, 2001-2004. Study days refer to the number of the days from animal capture until death or last telemetry location. Telemetry days refer to the number of days for which we received at least one

location on an animal._______________________________________________________________________________________________

Study Telemetry 100% Minimum Kernel Home Ranges

Animal I.D. Days Days Convex Polygon 95% 75%

Debmaa2 93 34 46.52 43.59 12.03 4.07 1.65

Naraa 99 23 55.50 108.02 47.62 15.06 3.91

Batbold 103 42 48.51 60.75 27.35 8.87 2.20

Amgaa 127 18 26.95 45.35 16.70 4.00 1.70

Bor 153 23 46.41 89.45 51.40 20.64 5.58

Bayanaa 159 30 36.97 36.64 7.15 3.16 1.34

Davaa 167 24 31.48 83.10 42.37 16.41 5.77

Choi 229 26 57.85 93.98 45.79 15.41 4.08

Otgoo 238 34 60.82 108.00 60.52 22.02 7.01

Jed 240 37 63.81 91.50 43.36 22.57 5.91

Zulaa 387 65 61,68 80.86 28.38 10.04 3.91

Namshir ,395 53 65.28 48.18 15.59 6.66 2.01

Tonimaa 397 48 74.07 84.28 23.00 7.55 2.97

Onon 399 48 65.40 69,96 20.47 5.96 1,97

Batorshikh 401 48 61.92 87.24 39.02 2.048 8.10

Mandakh 599 129 77.79 83.46 26.26 8.78 3.26

Tiiya 603 122 80.30 75,16 33.01 13.53 4.00

All data

Mean 281.71 47.29 56.54 75.85 31.77 10.99 3.85

S.F. 40.46 7.77 3.72 5.32 3.69 1.63 0.49

Animals with >375 study days and >45 telemetry days Mean 459.43 73.29 69.49 75.59 26.53 7.80 3.75

S.E. 37.88 36.22 2.93 5.08 2.97 2.97 0.79

Of these animals, we gathered data on >35 days were able to obtain day on 42.6 ±4.7 days. Eleven

for 9 argali (mean = 54.8 ±4.7 days), of which 3 of these animals (8 ewes, 1 lamb, and 2 rams) were

were ewes, 4 were lambs, and 2 were rams. In 2005 tracked for >35 days (mean = 59.4 ±4.7 days),

we monitored 21 argali over 285.3 ±25.6 days and Argali in Ikh Nart, at least those collared in our

study to date, do not engage in seasonal migrations [6].

Diet & Dietary Overlap.

Results of our research into argali diet and dietary overlap with livestock in detail. We only provide a summary of that work here. Available forage biomass decreased significantly in Ikh Nart from summer to winter, from 19g/m2 to 3.4g/m2. Even during summer, our results show low productivity, especially compared with other regions of the Gobi [1,3].

Fecal analysis determined the plants that argali and shoats consumed during different seasons of the year more accurately than direct observations [7]. Argali consumed a more varied diet than shoats in all seasons, with 12 key species comprising 58.0% of their diet in summer, followed by 46.9% in fall, 68.6% in winter, and 66.4% in spring. In comparison, shoats relied on only 9 key plant species to comprise 70.0% of their summer diet and 63.6%, 75.3%, and 78.0% of their diet in autumn, winter, and spring, respectively.

Argali and shoats preferred different species of plants at different times of the year. For a list of all species consumed by argali and shoats [7].

We found high dietary overlap between argali and shoats no matter the season, category of plant, or index used [7]. Dietary overlap ranged as high as 92% in summer and 99% in winter. Dietary overlap was greater in winter and spring (85% - 99%), when food resources are more limiting, than in summer and autumn (72% - 94%). The high degree of dietary overlap, low biomass availability, and extremely cold winters in Ikh Nart suggests that a strong potential for competition exists between argali and shoats it. As a result, reduction of livestock grazing in the reserve would likely improve the situation for argali.

Argali Population Size.

We began conducting population surveys in

September 2004 using distance sampling. Unfortunately, none of our surveys yielded sufficient data (recommend minimum = 40 groups; Buckland et al. 1993, Laake et al. 1993) for accurate modeling, although we came close to this total on April 9, 2005. Our small sample sizes yielded huge 95% confidence limits for density estimates that ranged range from 1.32 - 11.40 animals/km2 in September 2004 to 4.49 - 63.55 animals/km2 in April 2005 (or 212 - 1,824 argali to 718 - 10,168 argali for the 160 km2 we surveyed, respectively). Even our point estimates varied widely from 3.87 -16.90 argali/km2 (619 - 2,704 total argali). We are unable to discern trends given the poor precision of these estimates.

Mortality.

Of the 74 argali we collared in Ikh Nart since 2000, 49 (66.2%) have died. The vast majority (73.5%) of argali mortalities occurred in spring, with relatively equivalent mortality rates during other seasons. Yet, lambs comprised the vast majority (75.5) of the mortalities we recorded, and we would expect high mortality rates for neonatal animals, which comprised 59.2% of all mortalities. However, adults and yearlings still suffered 58.3% of their mortalities in spring. To our surprise, winter mortality has remained relatively low (8.3-10.8%) to date.

Predators killed the majority of argali (n = 19) for which we could determine a cause of death. In addition, 3 died from disease, 4 neonatal lambs died of maternal neglect during a particularly dry spring, 1 died of starvation during a harsh winter, and 1 died from an attack by a domestic horse that it startled. We could not determine the cause of death for the other 16 animals.

Predation appears to result in most argali deaths at our research site, but for 11 (57.9%) argali killed by predators, we were unable to determine the predator.

Literature

1. Campos-Arceiz A., Takatsuki S. and Lhagvasuren B. 2004. Food overlap between Mongolian gazelle and livestock in Omnogobi, southern Mongolia. Ecological Research 19: 455-460.

2. Daubenmire R. F. 1958. A canopy-coverage method of vegetational analysis. Northwest Science 53:43-64.

3. Jiang Z., Takatsuki S., Li J., Wang W., Gao Z. and Ma J. 2002. Seasonal Variations in Foods digestion of Mongolian Gazelles in China. Journal of Wildlife Management 66: 40-47.

4. Myagmarsuren, D. (ed.). 2000. Special protected areas of Mongolia. Mongolian Environmental Protection Agency and GTZ (the German Technical Advisory Agency, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

5. Reading, R. P., S. Amgalanbaatar, D. E. Kenny, and A. J. DeNicola. 2003. Argali ecology in “Ikh nart” Nature Reserve: Preliminary Findings. Mongolian Journal of Biological Sciences 1(2): 3-14.

6. Reading, R. P., S. Amgalanbaatar, G. J. Wingard, D. Kenny, and A. DeNicola. 2005. Ecology of argali in “Ikh nart”, Domogobi Aimag. Erforschung Biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei (Halle/Saale) 9: 77-89.

7. Wingard, G. 2005. Dietary overlap between argali sheep and domestic livestock in Mongolia. M.S. Thesis. University of Montana, Missoula, MT.

Ill

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Амгаланбаатар Сух, научный сотрудник лаборатории экологии млекопитающих Биологического института АН Монголии. Улан-Батор-51, тел: 976-99176580; e-mail: areali mon(a)vahoo.com:

Ричард Р. Ридинг, профессор Денверского университета, заместитель президента зоологического фонда Денвера, 2900, 2900 Е. 23rd Ave., Denver, СО 80205, США, e-mail: rreadins&denverzoo.ore

Доржиев Цыдыпжап Заятуевич - доктор биологических наук, профессор, зав. Кафедрой зоологии и экологии Бурятского государственного университета, 670000, г.Улан-Удэ, ул. Смолина, 24а, e-mail. tsvdvvdor(a)mail ru

Amgalanbaatar Sukh, research fellow, laboratory of mammals ecology, Institute of Biology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulaanbaatar - 51, Mongolia, e-mail: arsali mon(a>vahoo.com

Richard P. Reading (Ph.D), professor, Denver University, Denver Zoological Foundation, 2900 E. 23rd Ave., Denver, CO 80205 USA, e-mail: rreadins&denverzoo. orz

Dorzhiev Tsydypzhap Zayatuevich - doctor of biological sciences, professor, head of the department of zoology and ecology, Buryat State University, 670000, Smolin str. 24a, Ulan-Ude, Russia, e-mail. tsvdvvdor(a)mailru

УДК 595.762

© T.JI. А на ни на

Применение метода автокорреляционного анализа в исследовании многолетней динамики численности жужелиц (COLEOPTERA, CARABIDAE) Баргузинского хребта

Для выяснения особенностей многолетней динамики численности жужелиц был использован метод автокорреляционного анализа, позволивший выявить периодическую компоненту. Представлены коррелограммы многолетней динамики численности массовых видов жужелиц Баргузинского хребта за 20 лет.

Ключевые слова: Баргузинский хребет, жужелицы, численность, автокорреляционный анализ, коррелограмма, период.

T.L. Ananina

The Application of the Method of Autocorrelation Analysis in the Research of Long-term Dynamics of Carabids (COLEOPTERA, CARABIDAE) Number of the Barguzin ridge

The method of autocorrelation analysis have been used for finding-out the features of long-term dynamics of carabids number. It has allowed to reveal a periodic component. The correlograms of long-term dynamics of the number of mass carabid species of the Barguzinsky ridge for 20 years have been presented.

Keywords: the Barguzinsky ridge, carabids, number, autocorrelation analysis, correlogram, period.

Многолетние наблюдения за динамикой численности живых организмов, дающие возможность получения статистически достоверных результатов анализа, позволяют взглянуть на экосистемные процессы по-новому. Исследование ритмики природных процессов входит в задачу экологического мониторинга и является важным направлением научно-исследовательской деятельности заповедников [1]. Изучение временных рядов позволяет приблизиться к пониманию их внутренней природы [2]. При помощи некоторых статистических процедур могут быть решены задачи, которые не поддаются изучению традиционными способами обработки биологических данных [3].

Жуки-жужелицы являются наиболее крупной таксономической группой герпетобионтных насекомых, на долю которой приходится до 70% количественного состава среди остальных групп в Баргузинском заповеднике. Многолетние учеты численности жужелиц позволили провести более детальный анализ данных [4]. Предметом нашего внимания в предлагаемой статье было

обнаружение периодической компоненты в многолетних рядах численности жужелиц. Так как за каждой компонентой стоит порождающая ее самостоятельная и независимая причина, имеет смысл использовать ее в качестве предиктора [5]. Для этой цели мы применили автокорреляционный анализ статистической обработки данных [6].

Материал и методы исследования

В основу настоящей работы заложены результаты количественных учетов населения модельной группы жуков-жужелиц на ключевом участке Баргузинского хребта в 1988-2008 гг. [7]. Исследование проведено на стационарных площадях в срединной части Баргузинского хребта стандартным методом отлова почвенными ловушками [8] (рис. 1).

Проанализировано 37 динамических рядов популяций 18 массовых видов жужелиц из 11 биотопов. Доминантными считались виды жужелиц, имеющие 5% и более от численного обилия: Pterostichus montanus Mots ch., 1844, (26,6% от общего количества отловленных экземпляров), Carabus odoratus barguzinicus Shil., 2000,