Comparative behaviour of sand and mountain gazelles

Abstract

With 2 figures in the text)Behavioural observations of both captive and free-ranging sand and mountain gazelles revealed differences in group size and composition, territory size and agonistic behaviour. Sand gazelles are seasonal breeders and form large herds (maximum = 56) during rut and post-rut as compared to mountain gazelles, which breed throughout the year in smaller groups (maximum= 5). As a result, mountain gazelle males maintain their territories year round, whereas sand gazelle rams show marked morphological changes and defend a territory only during the rut. Mountain gazelle males exhibited threat displays rather than engaging in actual combat more often than did sand gazelles. Although subject to the same environmental conditions, sand gazelles are seasonal breeders and the young are born in March-April, whereas mountain gazelles give birth throughout the year.

Role of mass-kill hunting strategies in the extirpation of Persian gazelle ( Gazella subgutturosa ) in the northern Levant

“…S3 and Table S9). This pattern is consistent with the mixed herd of males and females seen during seasonal migration (3,34,35). Based on earlier travelers' accounts, the topography of the region, and the distribution of desert kites, Legge and RowleyConwy (14,15) reconstructed the seasonal migrations of gazelle along a north-south axis.…”

“…Assuming a birthing season of April and May, as seen in gazelle in Iraq today (34), this would indicate that these animals were killed in mid-to late summer.…”

Seasonal changes in group size and composition of Arabian sand gazelle Gazella subgutturosa marica Thomas, 1897 during a period of drought in central western Saudi Arabia

“…Based on observations reported by Wacher (1993) in the protected areas of northern Saudi Arabia and Habibi et al (1993) under semi-natural conditions, we predicted that mean group sizes in Mahazat as-Sayd would be largest during winter when gazelles are expected to migrate and gather into large concentrations to exploit common food resources (Legge and Rowley-Conwy, 1987). We found this to be the case for all groups considered and the effect was most pronounced in mixed groups (Table 1).…”

Genetic variability in goitred gazelle Gazella subgutturosa subgutturosa: allozymes and karyotypes

“…Predation by foxes or birds was responsible for 39.1% of this juvenile mortality, and stillbirths added another 6.2%. Habibi et al (1993) did not metion stillbirths or juvenile mortality in his study of 90 reproducing female sand gazelles from the King Khaled Wildlife Research Centre. Ralls et al (1980) reported a high perinatal (and juvenile) mortality of 29% in captive-bred dorcas gazelles (G. doreas), with the statistically significant difference of 43% for inbred, but only 18% for non-inbred calves.…”

“…However, free-ranging populations of G. s. subgutturosa have disappeared from several localities (Brooke 1873, Kumerloeve 1969, Iśunin 1978, Lobacev et al 1978, Heptner et al 1989, Ogurlu 1992. The related and even more vulnerable sand gazelle, G. s. marica, was subject to a captive-breeding and research programme in Saudi Arabia and in North American zoos, which included cytogenetic and allozyme investigations (Kingswood and Kumamoto 1988, Granjon et al 1991, Launay and Launay 1992, Williamson et al 1992, Habibi et al 1993, Vassart et al 1993b, Kingswood et al 1994. In contrast, the population genetic variability of G. s. subgutturosa has not previously been investigated.…”