Measuring and mapping the influence of landscape factors on livestock predation by wolves in Mongolia

Davie, Hannah S.; Murdoch, James D.; Lhagvasuren, Ankhbayar; Reading, Richard P.

doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2014.01.008

Cited by 43 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 22 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Pastoralists raise goats ( Capra aegragus ), sheep ( Ovis aries ), horses ( Equus ferus caballus ), cattle ( Bos taurus ), and camels ( Camelus bactrianus ); subsist on meat and milk from their animals; and sell meat, hides, and wool as their primary income (Davie et al. ). Selling crafts to tourists and participating in paid conservation activities—such as assisting with argali captures and repairing wells—provide marginal income (<$200/year) to a minority of families.…”

Section: Ikh Nartmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Davie et al. (, ) interviewed 102 head‐of‐household pastoralists at Ikh Nart, representing nearly all households, about herding methods, livestock predation by wolves, attitudes toward wolves, and demographic data. Interviews indicated a minimum livestock population of 27,620 sheep, 24,790 goats, 2,227 horses, 1,569 cattle, and 434 camels inhabiting Ikh Nart for part of the year (Davie et al.…”

Section: Domestic and Native Ungulatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Desert pastoralists’ negative and positive effects on rare wildlife in the Gobi

Ekernas

Sarmento

Davie

et al. 2017

Conservation Biology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In arid regions of the developing world, pastoralists and livestock commonly inhabit protected areas, resulting in human-wildlife conflict. Conflict is inextricably linked to the ecological processes shaping relationships between pastoralists and native herbivores and carnivores. To elucidate relationships underpinning human-wildlife conflict, we synthesized 15 years of ecological and ethnographic data from Ikh Nart Nature Reserve in Mongolia's Gobi steppe. The density of argali (Ovis ammon), the world's largest wild sheep, at Ikh Nart was among the highest in Mongolia, yet livestock were >90% of ungulate biomass and dogs >90% of large-carnivore biomass. For argali, pastoral activities decreased food availability, increased mortality from dog predation, and potentially increased disease risk. Isotope analyses indicated that livestock accounted for >50% of the diet of the majority of gray wolves (Canis lupus) and up to 90% of diet in 25% of sampled wolves (n = 8). Livestock composed at least 96% of ungulate prey in the single wolf pack for which we collected species-specific prey data. Interviews with pastoralists indicated that wolves annually killed 1-4% of Ikh Nart's livestock, and pastoralists killed wolves in retribution. Pastoralists reduced wolf survival by killing them, but their livestock were an abundant food source for wolves. Consequently, wolf density appeared to be largely decoupled from argali density, and pastoralists had indirect effects on argali that could be negative if pastoralists increased wolf density (apparent competition) or positive if pastoralists decreased wolf predation (apparent facilitation). Ikh Nart's argali population was stable despite these threats, but livestock are increasingly dominant numerically and functionally relative to argali. To support both native wildlife and pastoral livelihoods, we suggest training dogs to not kill argali, community insurance against livestock losses to wolves, reintroducing key native prey species to hotspots of human-wolf conflict, and developing incentives for pastoralists to reduce livestock density.

show abstract

Section: Ikh Nartmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Domestic and Native Ungulatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Desert pastoralists’ negative and positive effects on rare wildlife in the Gobi

Ekernas

Sarmento

Davie

et al. 2017

Conservation Biology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Our results in particular demonstrate that fine spatial grains <100 m represent species decisions made during the attack and kill for large carnivores that ambush prey. Coarser scales are likely more appropriate for active carnivores that attack and kill over larger areas (Kaartinen et al 2009;Davie et al 2014).…”

Section: Relevance Of Spatial Grain For Predicting Killsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Landscape‐scale accessibility of livestock to tigers: implications of spatial grain for modeling predation risk to mitigate human–carnivore conflict

Miller

Jhala

Jena

et al. 2015

Ecology and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Innovative conservation tools are greatly needed to reduce livelihood losses and wildlife declines resulting from human–carnivore conflict. Spatial risk modeling is an emerging method for assessing the spatial patterns of predator–prey interactions, with applications for mitigating carnivore attacks on livestock. Large carnivores that ambush prey attack and kill over small areas, requiring models at fine spatial grains to predict livestock depredation hot spots. To detect the best resolution for predicting where carnivores access livestock, we examined the spatial attributes associated with livestock killed by tigers in Kanha Tiger Reserve, India, using risk models generated at 20, 100, and 200-m spatial grains. We analyzed land-use, human presence, and vegetation structure variables at 138 kill sites and 439 random sites to identify key landscape attributes where livestock were vulnerable to tigers. Land-use and human presence variables contributed strongly to predation risk models, with most variables showing high relative importance (≥0.85) at all spatial grains. The risk of a tiger killing livestock increased near dense forests and near the boundary of the park core zone where human presence is restricted. Risk was nonlinearly related to human infrastructure and open vegetation, with the greatest risk occurring 1.2 km from roads, 1.1 km from villages, and 8.0 km from scrubland. Kill sites were characterized by denser, patchier, and more complex vegetation with lower visibility than random sites. Risk maps revealed high-risk hot spots inside of the core zone boundary and in several patches in the human-dominated buffer zone. Validation against known kills revealed predictive accuracy for only the 20 m model, the resolution best representing the kill stage of hunting for large carnivores that ambush prey, like the tiger. Results demonstrate that risk models developed at fine spatial grains can offer accurate guidance on landscape attributes livestock should avoid to minimize human–carnivore conflict.

show abstract

“…In the mid-2000s, a research project began that focused on the ecology of meso-carnivores and their prey. The project focused primarily on the ecology of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and corsac foxes (Vulpes corsac), but that also included Pallas's cats (Otocolobus manul), Asian badgers (Meles leucurus), and wolves (Canis lupus) Munkhzul et al, 2012, Davie et al, 2014, Lkhagvasuren et al, 2016. This study involved capturing and radiocollaring animals as part of a broader project on protected area management in the reserve .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ectoparasites on Meso-carnivores in the Desert-steppe of Mongolia

Munkhzul

Murdoch

Reading

2018

Mong. J. Biol. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Key words: Carnivore, disease. ectoparasite, fl ea, tick Cite this paper as:Studying fl ea community structure on wild carnivores is important for identifying fl ea vectors for potential infectious diseases and providing information needed to design programs for human and wildlife health. We collected ectoparasites from 4 species of meso-carnivores in an arid Desert-steppe ecosystem of Mongolia. We captured four meso-carnivore species, including corsac fox (V. corsac, n = 7), red fox (Vulpes vulpes, n = 4), Asian badger (Meles leucurus, n = 4), and Pallas's cat (Otocolobus manul, n = 4), and recorded 207 fl eas representing 14 species from 7 genera of 4 families, and 2 ticks from 1 species. We collected 86 fl eas (6 species) from corsac foxes, 89 fl eas (6 species) from red foxes, 14 fl eas (5 species) from badgers, and 18 fl eas (8 species) from Pallas's cats. The fl ea community was dominated by two species (Pulex irritans, Chaetopsylla homoeus), which accounted for 72% of all ectoparasites collected. Pulex irritans was the most common species on corsac and red foxes, and Paraceras melis was the most common species on badgers. Three species were most commonly collected on Pallas's cats, including Pulex irritans, Paraceras melis, and Chaetopsylla appropihquans. Among fl eas, 8 species occurred only on a single mesocarnivore species, 1 species occurred on two meso-carnivore species, and 5 species occurred on 3 meso-carnivore species. The tick, Dermacentor nuttalli only occurred on corsac fox and badger. Our results provide baseline information on the associations of fl eas and ticks with wild carnivores that represent potential vectors of disease, which can inform disease management strategies in Mongolia.Munkhzul, Ts., Murdoch, J. D. & Reading, R. P. 2018. Ectoparasites on mesocarnivores in the desert-steppe of Mongolia. Mong. J. Biol. Sci., 16(1): 43-48.

show abstract

Measuring and mapping the influence of landscape factors on livestock predation by wolves in Mongolia

Cited by 43 publications

References 22 publications

Desert pastoralists’ negative and positive effects on rare wildlife in the Gobi

Desert pastoralists’ negative and positive effects on rare wildlife in the Gobi

Landscape‐scale accessibility of livestock to tigers: implications of spatial grain for modeling predation risk to mitigate human–carnivore conflict

Ectoparasites on Meso-carnivores in the Desert-steppe of Mongolia

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About