Ganchimeg Wingard

Back–casting sociality in extinct species: new perspectives using mass death assemblages and sex ratios

Despite 150 years of interest in the ecology of dinosaurs, mammoths, proto–hominids and other extinct vertebrates, a general framework to recreate patterns of sociality has been elusive. Based on our recent discovery of a contemporary heterospecific mass death assemblage in the Gobi Desert (Mongolia), we fit predictions about gender–specific associations and group living in extant ungulates to extinct ones. We relied on comparative data on sex–ratio variation and body–size dimorphism, basing analyses on 38 additional mass mortality sites from Asia, Africa, Europe and North America that span 50 million years. Both extant and extinct species died in aggregations with biased adult sex ratios, but the skew (from 1:1) was greater for extinct dimorphic taxa, suggesting that sociality in these extinct species can be predicted from spatial and demographic traits of extant ones. However, extinct rhinos, horses and zebras were inconsistent with predictions about adult sex ratios, which underscores the inherent difficulty in backcasting historic patterns to some monomorphic taxa. These findings shed light not only on the sociality of extinct species but provide a sound, although limited, footing for interpretation of modern death assemblages within the context of the emerging science of taphonomy and palaeobehaviour.

Estimating abundance of mountain ungulates incorporating imperfect detection: argali Ovis ammon in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia

Abstract Estimating the density or abundance of mountain ungulates is difficult and rarely conducted in a statistically valid manner. The rough terrain they inhabit, their group-living habits, their relatively low density, and the difficulty of marking individuals all contribute to making rigorous estimates of abundance logistically difficult. Raw (uncalibrated) counts are usually reported, and although their drawbacks are often acknowledged, biases are rarely quantified. In September 2009, we took advantage of the presence of a radio-marked sample of argali Ovis ammon in the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve in south-central Mongolia, as well as the areas comparatively forgiving topography to estimate abundance simultaneously using two independent methods: distance sampling and mark-resight sampling. Distance sampling produced an abundance estimate of 539 (95% CI: 196-1,081) argali within a ∼ 330 km2 study area on the same day that we visually tallied 189 animals. Mark-resight sampling using the Poisson log-normal model yielded an estimate of 747 (95% CI: 484-1,009) argali when we observed, at most, 223 animals in any given day. Although both were imprecise, their similarity increases our confidence that neither estimator was highly biased. Because of budget or logistical restrictions, uncalibrated counts of mountain ungulates are often the only alternative. They should be viewed cautiously, however, and when possible, more rigorous approaches to estimating abundance should be taken.

Successful field capture techniques for free‐ranging argali sheep (Ovis ammon) in Mongolia

Argali sheep (Ovis ammon) are the worlds largest wild sheep and are threatened throughout their range in Mongolia. Little is known about the ecology of this highly cursorial species. This project was initiated to develop safe capture techniques in order to learn more about the ecology of argali in the Ikh Nartiin Chuluun Nature Reserve in southeastern Mongolia by using radiotelemetry. To our knowledge no one had ever successfully live-caught a free-ranging argali. We developed three techniques for capturing argali. From 2003 to 2007 we hand captured 65 argali lambs, losing one (our first capture) to maternal neglect because we stayed too long in the area and a second that was euthanized after being accidentally injured by a horse. Between 2000 and 2003 we captured six argali by darting, losing one ewe to an abdominal infection after a misplaced dart. Finally, between 2002 and 2007 we captured 32 argali by drive-netting. We lost one ewe to over-exertion after a long drive. The remaining 31 animals captured by drive-netting did not appear to suffer any immediate effects (still alive in 30 days). This report will discuss the strengths and weaknesses for each of these capture techniques. Zoo Biol 27:137-144, 2008. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Argali lamb (Ovis ammon) morphometric measurements and survivorship in Mongolia.

Abstract We examined variables that might affect survivorship of neonatal argali sheep (Ovis ammon), including body weight, date of birth, gender, precipitation, and year affects, which often influence neonatal survivorship in other species of sheep. From 2003 to 2008 we hand-captured 75 argali lambs (38♂, 36♀, 1 undetermined) and attached expandable, drop-off radio collars in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia. We collected morphometric and physiological measurements and radio-tracked lambs to obtain data on survivorship and mortality. We found similar morphometric and physiological measurements for male and female lambs, with significant differences only in foreleg length (♀<♂) and respiration rates (♀>♂). Only 44.6% of argali lambs survive their first month of life, but thereafter their mortality rate decreases. Lambs not born in 2006, born in years following years with higher April precipitation, and born later in the year enjoyed significantly higher survival to one month. We found high mortality in the years with severe drought (2005–2006), which depressed overall survivorship. We found no significant effect of any physiological or morphometric variables on lamb survival. Argali lambs die from several causes, with predation (44.6%) and starvation (21.4%) being the most significant.

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

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 Mongolias Gobi steppe. The density of argali (Ovis ammon), the worlds 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 Narts 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 Narts 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.

The Crucial Importance of Protected Areas to Conserving Mongolia’s Natural Heritage

VAST (1.57 MILLION SQUARE KILOMETERS), sparsely populated (approximately 2.7 million people), and relatively poor (mean income per capita in 2013 =

Argali food habits and dietary overlap with domestic livestock in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia

3,770), Mongolia faces the daunting task of protecting its natural heritage in the face of rapid natural resource extraction efforts by multinational corporations that are promising quick prosperity. Further complicating the rising extractive bonanza, Mongolia continues its struggles to transition from a communist nation with a centrally controlled economy to a democracy with a free market. Expanding and improving its system of protected areas arguably represents the most important component of Mongolia’s conservation efforts since political and economic transformation began in 1991. Mongolia has strongly embraced the importance of protected areas to help counter its accelerating rate of development, although as demands for the country’s vast mineral and fossil fuel resources grow, and as the increasingly urban population of the country becomes impatient for the promised rise in “standard of living,” the challenges to protected areas expansion, management, and even retention (in certain cases) increases. In this essay, we briefly describe the historical and continuing cultural importance of conservation in Mongolia, the threats to the country’s protected areas system, and the vital need to maintain, expand, and better manage the nation’s system of nature protection.