Abundance, population structure and seasonally changing social organization of argali Ovis ammon karelini in West-Central Tian-Shan of Kyrgyzstan

Klich, Daniel; Magomedov, M. R. D.

doi:10.4098/j.at.0001-7051.023.2008

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…This interpretation is supported by the relatively high crude density of 1.8 argali km −2 recorded during the autumn survey, which was probably an underestimate, according to a recent test of survey methods for this species (Wingard et al, 2011). Productivity was also relatively high, as evidenced by the composition of subsamples of observed herds (n = 33): lambs constituted c. 18% of the autumn population, at a ratio of lambs to adult ewes of 0.52, which is similar to the results from surveys conducted in the same general area a few years earlier (Klich & Magomedov, 2010). A probable explanation for the lack of competition between the two carnivores in spite of similar and specialized diets is that the range quality for wild ungulates increased significantly following the termination of widespread and heavy grazing by livestock 13 years previously.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Large carnivores and low diversity of optimal prey: a comparison of the diets of snow leopards Panthera uncia and wolves Canis lupus in Sarychat-Ertash Reserve in Kyrgyzstan

Jumabay-Uulu¹,

Wegge

Mishra

et al. 2013

Oryx

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In the cold and arid mountains of Central Asia, where the diversity and abundance of wild ungulates are generally low, resource partitioning among coexisting carnivores is probably less distinct than in prey-rich areas. Thus, similar-sized carnivores are likely to compete for food. We compared the summer diets of snow leopards Panthera uncia and wolves Canis lupus in Sarychat-Ertash Reserve in the Tien-Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan, based on analysis of genetically confirmed scats. Abundances of the principal prey species, argali Ovis ammon and Siberian ibex Capra sibirica, were estimated from field surveys. The diets consisted of few species, with high interspecific overlap (Pianka's index 5 0.91). Argali was the predominant prey, with . 50% frequency of occurrence in both snow leopard and wolf scats. This was followed by Siberian ibex and marmots Marmota baibacina. Being largely unavailable, remains of livestock were not detected in any of the scats. In the snow leopard diet, proportions of argali and ibex were in line with the relative availabilities of these animals in the Reserve. This was in contrast to the diet of wolf, where argali occurred according to availability and ibex was significantly underrepresented. The high diet overlap indicates that the two predators might compete for food when the diversity of profitable, large prey is low. Competition may be more intense in winter, when marmots are not available. Hunting of argali and ibex outside the Reserve may be unsustainable and therefore reduce their abundances over time. This will affect both predators negatively and intensify competition for food. Reduction in ibex populations will directly affect the snow leopard, and the wolf is likely to be indirectly affected as a result of increased snow leopard predation of argali.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%