59 research outputs found
Interference Competition between Wild and Domestic Ungulates at Watering Sites of Gobi Desert, Mongolia
No full textDesertification processes in Central Asia are largely dependent on soil degradation induced by excessive livestock grazing, besides climate changes. Desertification represents a threat to wildlife species living in arid environments, since reduced accessibility to water strongly affects their distribution and behavior. Moreover, livestock presence exacerbates competition with wildlife for scarce water resources. Given their crucial importance to wildlife persistence, water sources in arid environments are critical to the study of wildlife behavior and interspecific competition. The Small Gobi A is one such environment of Mongolia, characterized by high grazing pressure despite low human presence. Between September and October 2017, we conducted camera trapping surveys at two waterholes identified as potential drinking sources for wildlife. We aimed to explore the spatio-temporal interactions among large domestic ungulates (e.g., Bactrian camel Camelus bactrianus), and wild ungulates (e.g., Asian wild ass Equus hemionus, and goitered gazelle Gazella subgutturosa), which are among the most iconic and threatened ungulates of Mongolia. The results showed a complete spatial segregation between domestic and wild ungulates, and a high temporal segregation among wild ungulates. This study confirms spatial and temporal niche partitioning as a strategy adopted by wild species to reduce competition and allow species coexistence. We recommend enhanced management measures of free-roaming livestock to reduce the pressure on wild species at drinking sites
Temporal overlap among small- and medium-sized mammals in a grassland and a forest–alpine meadow of Central Asia
No full textAssessing carnivores and prey temporal activity patterns as well as their overlap provides valuable insights into behavioural mitigations of competition. Moon phases may also play an important role in shaping wild mammals’ activity rhythms with prey showing peaks of activity in darkest nights. Camera trapping has enriched the possibility to conduct systematic studies of activity patterns and temporal niche overlap on mammalian guilds. In this study, we used camera traps to investigate intra-guild interactions and temporal partitioning among three meso-carnivores and their common prey in two Mongolian areas characterized, respectively, by a grassland and a forest–alpine meadow. We detected a moderate–high interspecific overlap in red foxes, pikas and tolai hares. We found a moderate overlap of temporal activity patterns among nocturnal carnivores as well as among nocturnal prey species. Interestingly, we observed a moderate overlap between hares and meso-carnivores. Amongst nocturnal species, the red fox and the stoat had a peak in activity in the brightest nights, the stone marten and the Mongolian silver vole preferred to range in dark nights, whereas activity of the tolai hare was not dependent on moon phases. Our work provides some first insights of temporal pattern interactions within a small- and meso-mammal assemblage in Central Asia. Our results indicate that meso-carnivores and their potential prey can co-occur in Central Mongolia by means of temporal partitionin
A Spotlight on Mustelids of the Southern Mongolian Forest
No full textLittle is known about the mustelids status and distribution in Mongolia: twelve native species occur in
the country (Batsaikhan et al. 2014). Only Martes zibelllina is locally threatened, while the data related
to the most of the species are deemed deficient (Clark et al. 2006). Between August and October 2018,
a camera trapping survey was conducted in the Khangai Nuuru National Park, which hosts the southernmost forest, in Mongolia. The study area includes forest patches, grassland and alpine vegetation above the tree line.We sampled approximately 60km2, displaying 40 camera traps in front of mid-large carnivores marking points and animal trails, keeping a minimum distance between cameras of 800m. The results demonstrated the area provide a rich carnivore guild with a surprisingly high density of mustelids species, other than canids and felids (five other species). In fact, on a minimum explored area of 15km2, seven species were detected, the 58.3% of those occurring in the country. The species list include: Gulo
gulo, Martes foina, Mustela eversmanii, Meles leucurus, Mustela sibirica, Mustela erminea and Mustela nivalis. Furs from all of them have been found in the herders houses, as well as in markets and shopping
malls of Ulaanbaatar, underlying the strong hunting pressure still present. The study area can be considered a mustelids hotspot due to the high density in a such limited area (which should host also Mustela altaica). The high variety of mustelid species could let infer an intraguild low competition, probably related to the differences in body size, food specialization and
largely differentiated prey availability (eg Aunapuu & Oksanen 2003). We strongly encourage a study aimed to assess the status and the conservation effectiveness of mustelids in the Central Mongolia, to address local institutions towards the proper protection actions
Discovering mammal diversity by phototrapping in the Khangai Nuruu National Park (Mongolia)
No full textAllactaga bullata Allen 1925
No full textAllactaga bullata Allen, 1925 Records. One individual was recorded in May 13, 2017 in the live trapping site LSH16 (43°11.039′ N, 105°45.276′ E – time 9:40 pm); Figure 5K. Identification. We based the identification on morphometric and qualitative characters. A white stripe on the tail differentiates this species from other jerboas as well the morphology of hind limbs and the length of the ears (Smith et al. 2010, Batsaikhan 2014).Published as part of Augugliaro, Claudio, Paniccia, Chiara, Janchivlamdan, Choikhand, Monti, Ibra E., Boldbaatar, Turmunkh & Munkhtsog, Bariusha, 2019, Mammal inventory in the Mongolian Gobi, with the southeasternmost documented record of the Snow Leopard, Panthera uncia (Schreber, 1775), in the country, pp. 565-578 in Check List 15 (4) on pages 570-572, DOI: 10.15560/15.4.56
Vulpes vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus 1758
No full textVulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758) Records. First record was in May 19, 2017 (42°57.241′ N, 105°37.608′ E – camera trap SGCI4 – time 1:52 am), and subsequently in the monitoring sites (SGHI2, SGCI2, SGCI5, SGAPA03, SGAPA06, SGAPA13, SGAPA21, SGAPA23, SGAPA5, SGAPA9, OS2; for details see Table 4); Figure 5I. Identification. It can be distinguished by Vulpes corsac by its long, bushy, white-tipped tail, black-backed ears, and longer, darker legs (Batsaikhan 2014).Published as part of Augugliaro, Claudio, Paniccia, Chiara, Janchivlamdan, Choikhand, Monti, Ibra E., Boldbaatar, Turmunkh & Munkhtsog, Bariusha, 2019, Mammal inventory in the Mongolian Gobi, with the southeasternmost documented record of the Snow Leopard, Panthera uncia (Schreber, 1775), in the country, pp. 565-578 in Check List 15 (4) on page 576, DOI: 10.15560/15.4.56
Ovis ammon Linnaeus 1758
No full textOvis ammon Linnaeus, 1758 Records. First record was in August 14, 2017 (43°25.311′ N, 106°11.725′ E – camera trap SGHI2 – 5:04 pm), and subsequently in the monitoring sites (SGAPA03, SGAPA06, SGAPA11, SGAPA14, OS2, OS1; see Table 4 for the coordinates); Figure 4D. Identification. It is the only wild sheep species in the area and there are no similar species (Batsaikhan 2014).Published as part of Augugliaro, Claudio, Paniccia, Chiara, Janchivlamdan, Choikhand, Monti, Ibra E., Boldbaatar, Turmunkh & Munkhtsog, Bariusha, 2019, Mammal inventory in the Mongolian Gobi, with the southeasternmost documented record of the Snow Leopard, Panthera uncia (Schreber, 1775), in the country, pp. 565-578 in Check List 15 (4) on page 575, DOI: 10.15560/15.4.56
Effects of free-ranging livestock on occurrence and interspecific interactions of a mammalian community
No full textDataset for Salvatori M, Oberosler V, Augugliaro C, Krofel M and Rovero F (2022) "Effects of free-ranging livestock on occurrence and interspecific interactions of a mammalian community". Ecological Applications. Data are camera trapping detections of mammals across 26 sites and 4 areas in Western Mongolia.<br
Phodopus roborovskii
No full text<i>Phodopus roborovskii</i> (Satunin, 1903) <p> <b>Records.</b> First record was in August 12, 2017 in the live trapping site SHC5 (43°11.092′ N, 105°45.329′ E – 09:00 am), and subsequently in the monitoring site LSH6 (Table 4); Figure 6O.</p> <p> <b>Identification.</b> We based the identification on morphometric and qualitative characters. It is smaller than Campbell’s Hamster (<i>Phodopus campbelli</i> (Thomas, 1905)) and does not have the stripe on the back. The feet are covered with white hairs. It has a relatively long and sharp snout (Batsaikhan 2014).</p>Published as part of <i>Augugliaro, Claudio, Paniccia, Chiara, Janchivlamdan, Choikhand, Monti, Ibra E., Boldbaatar, Turmunkh & Munkhtsog, Bariusha, 2019, Mammal inventory in the Mongolian Gobi, with the southeasternmost documented record of the Snow Leopard, Panthera uncia (Schreber, 1775), in the country, pp. 565-578 in Check List 15 (4)</i> on page 575, DOI: 10.15560/15.4.56
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