Artificial Water Troughs Use by the Mountain Ungulate Ovis gmelini ophion (Cyprus Mouflon) at Pafos Forest

Abstract

For large herbivores inhabiting arid/semi-arid environments, water can be a limiting resource affecting their distribution and abundance for periods when water requirements are not met via forage. The Cyprus mouflon (Ovis gmelini ophion) is such a species, which is endemic to the mountain habitats of Cyprus. Recognizing water scarcity to be a major pressure to the mouflon, and with global warming projected to intensify hot and dry periods in the region, the Game and Fauna Service has been maintaining a network of locally designed watering troughs in Pafos Forest—the mouflon’s stronghold—since 1997. This study describes the mouflon’s use of the water troughs and examines whether visitation rates differed at the daily or weekly scale in response to environmental, climatic or anthropogenic parameters. Using camera traps, ten troughs were monitored from September 2017 to March 2018 (1,065 days; range 29–164 days per trough). Mouflon were detected at seven troughs (mean herd size 1.5 ± 1.2) during 373 independent detections (≥30 min interval between photographs), with visits peaking during late morning and midday hours. Generalized mixed-effect models showed mouflon visiting water troughs more frequently during hotter days, regardless of recent precipitation. Visits were also more frequent at water troughs located close to tar roads. Moreover, there was no evidence of mouflon avoiding water troughs used by predators (red foxes, feral dogs) at either daily or weekly scale, or during hunting days. The study supports the value of artificial water troughs for mediating, partially at least, the effects of climate change on mountain ungulates such as the Cyprus mouflon. Additional studies are proposed that will examine both mouflon drinking patterns across all seasons and ways of improving the effectiveness of the current water trough grid.

First Detection of Cryptosporidium parvum in the Endemic Cyprus Mouflon (Ovis gmelini ophion)

“…Sampling should focus primarily on areas where mouflon and domestic ungulates coexist, especially near artificial watering points constructed and maintained by the Game and Fauna Service in the driest parts of the mouflon range. Disease transmission risk within and between species has been identified as a factor to consider in such watering areas [ 44 – 46 ]. Considering that C. parvum is the most dangerous Cryptosporidium species in animals and responsible for mortality in neonatal animals, actions should be taken to protect the Cyprus mouflon considering that it is an endemic and endangered species.…”

Temporal Patterns of Utilization of Constructed Water Pans by Different Mammal Species: A Study of Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya

“…7). The levels of water pan utilization during the dry season were high due to the drying up of all the ephemeral water sources on the surface and also due to an increase in thermoregulatory needs by mammals caused by increase in environmental temperature compelling animals to drink more frequently to lower their body temperature (Surtherland et al, [2] Eliades et al, [16] Additionally, Mammals concentrate around water pans during the dry season because of the reduction in the amount of moisture content in vegetation [8]. Wet season had fewer visitations since all the ephemeral sources and water sources were filled up with water hence animals were dispersed within the landscape.…”

“…In Australia and North America artificial water provisioning has been reported to increase wildlife population, alter wildlife distribution and provide water to wildlife species during the dry season [15,16]. In Africa water provisioning is an important management technique in maintaining mammal population in most of the protected areas (Tefempa et al, 2008;Perkins, [17] Chakuya, 2021; Bennit et al, [18].…”

Use of artificial water troughs by deer in the Maya forest, México

“…For large herbivores living in dry environments, water can be a limiting resource that affects their distribution and abundance in periods when water requirements are not met through forage (Villarreal-Espino and Marín 2005;Nagy and Gruchacz 1994;Eliades et al 2022). In these circumstances, many animals depend on access to surface freshwater sources, especially during certain critical periods of the year (Moro-Ríos et al 2008).…”