Takehiko Y. Ito

Fragmentation of the Habitat of Wild Ungulates by Anthropogenic Barriers in Mongolia

Habitat loss and habitat fragmentation caused by anthropogenic activities are the main factors that constrain long-distance movement of ungulates. Mongolian gazelles (Procapra gutturosa) and Asiatic wild asses (Equus hemionus) in Mongolia are facing habitat fragmentation and loss. To better understand how their movements respond to potential anthropogenic and natural barriers, we tracked 24 Mongolian gazelles and 12 wild asses near the Ulaanbaatar–Beijing Railroad and the fenced international border between Mongolia and China between 2002 and 2012. None of the tracked gazelles crossed the railroad, even though gazelles were captured on both sides of the tracks at the start of the study. Similarly, we did not observe cross-border movements between Mongolia and China for either species, even though some animals used areas adjacent to the border. The both species used close areas to the anthropogenic barriers more frequently during winter than summer. These results suggest strong impacts by the artificial barriers. The construction of new railroads and roads to permit mining and other resource development therefore creates the threat of further habitat fragmentation, because the planned routes will divide the remaining non-fragmented habitats of the ungulates into smaller pieces. To conserve long-distance movement of the ungulates in this area, it will be necessary to remove or mitigate the barrier effects of the existing and planned roads and railroads and to adopt a landscape-level approach to allow access by ungulates to wide ranges throughout their distribution.

One-Sided Barrier Impact of an International Railroad on Mongolian Gazelles

Abstract We conducted a carcass census of Mongolian gazelles (Procapra gutturosa) along the Trans-Mongolian railroad in June 2005. We counted 241 gazelles that had died within the previous 12 months. Carcass numbers were greater on the southwestern side in the northern 3 zones, but we found carcasses only on the northeastern side in the southernmost zone. It suggests that impact of the railroad was stronger on one side and that the strength of this impact varied among regions.

Conserving the world's finest grassland amidst ambitious national development.

Department of Zoology, School of Biology and Biotechnology, National University of Mongolia, University Avenue-1, Ulaanbaatar,Mongolia†Mongolia Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Amar Street-3, “Internom” Bookstore Building, 3rd Floor, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia‡Ochir-WWF Mongolia Program, Amar Street-4, P.O. Box 115, PO-20A, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia§The Nature Conservancy Mongolia Program Office, Amar Street-4, 2nd floor, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia¶Protected Areas Administration, Mongolia, Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area, Khovd, Mongolia

Home Range, Habitat Selection, and Food Habits of the Sika Deer Using the Short-Grass Community on Kinkazan Island, Northern Japan

The home range size and changes by season were studied for four radiocollared adult female sika deer in the high-density population at the shrine area of Kinkazan Island, northern Japan. Size of home ranges was quite small, the greatest of the four females being about 20 ha, much smaller than for sika deer in other areas, or as predicted by body size relationships to home range size in other species by McNab (1963). The female home ranges overlapped broadly and were centered on the short-grass (lawnlike) Zoysia grasslands, their major feeding area. There was no consistent pattern in home range sizes over the seasons, with some individuals showing increases and others declines. However, Zoysia grassland use was greatest in summer and least in winter, which agreed with the foods consumed, which was 70% Zoysia japonica in summer and 14% in winter.

Effects of soil-salt accumulation on sheep body weight in Mongolian grassland: evidence of excess salt in plant and wool samples

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of accumulated soil salt on livestock production in Mongolian grasslands. In saline and control areas, we compared soil salinity, sodium concentrations in plants and wool, and body weights of ewes. Mean soil salinity, sodium concentrations, and growth retardation were greater in the high-salinity area than in the control region. Increased retention of sodium in wool samples was evidence of excess dietary sodium. These results reflect sodium overflow from soil to sheep via plants, and this overflow can diminish livestock productivity in saline areas.

Habitat Fragmentation by Railways as a Barrier to Great Migrations of Ungulates in Mongolia

Mongolia’s Gobi-Steppe Ecosystem is the largest grassland in the world and the habitat of long-distance movement ungulates, such as the Mongolian gazelle (Procapra gutturosa) and the Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus). The international railway between Russia and China bisects this habitat, and there has been concern that it may impede the movements of wild ungulates. We tracked ungulate movements on both sides of the Ulaanbaatar–Beijing Railway, and found that most of the tracked animals never crossed the railway. The construction of additional railways to permit mining projects in the area is therefore a further threat to maintaining the great migrations of ungulates across Mongolia.