Creating a Habitat Suitability Index Model for Argali Sheep (Ovis ammon), and Siberian Ibex (Capra sibirica) in Ikh Nartin Reserve, Mongolia

Mongolia is a country with a park system of protected areas, preserving native flora and fauna. In order to inform decision makers about the status of endangered species and park land health, two species of concern, the Argali sheep (Ovis ammon) and Siberian ibex Capra siberica) in the Ikh Nart Reserve in Mongolia were studied. A Habitat Suitability Index Model was developed to study the Argali and ibex habitat preference and discern if the reserve and core zone offer optimal habitat. A total of 57 animals were examined, creating 95% and 50% home range kernels, and minimum convex polygons. The percent use of six vegetation classes were rated from 0 (most preferred) to 6 (least preferred). The 3 most preferred vegetation classes for Argali and ibex are dense rock, low-density shrub, and short grass forb. The core zone was designed appropriately offering the same proportion of vegetation classes as Argali and ibex prefer

Creating a Habitat Suitability Index Model for Argali Sheep (Ovis ammon), and Siberian Ibex (Capra sibirica) in Ikh Nartin Reserve, Mongolia

Mongolia is a country with a park system of protected areas, preserving native flora and fauna. In order to inform decision makers about the status of endangered species and park land health, two species of concern, the Argali sheep (Ovis ammon) and Siberian ibex (Capra siberica) in the Ikh Nart Reserve in Mongolia were studied. A Habitat Suitability Index Model was developed to study the Argali and ibex habitat preference and discern if the reserve and core zone offer optimal habitat. A total of 57 animals were examined, creating 95% and 50% home range kernels, and minimum convex polygons. The percent use of six vegetation classes were rated from 0 (most preferred) to 6 (least preferred). The 3 most preferred vegetation classes for Argali and ibex are dense rock, low-density shrub, and short grass forb. The core zone was designed appropriately offering the same proportion of vegetation classes as Argali and ibex prefer

Creating a Ruggedness Layer for Use in Habitat Suitability Modeling for Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia

Spatially-explicit wildlife habitat models are increasingly used to study optimal habitat for species of conservation focus. A ruggedness layer, that summarizes aspect and slope, provides a useful tool for analyses conducted in a Geographic Information System (GIS), such as developing a habitat suitability index model to measure species habitat use. Ruggedness layers prove especially useful in areas where topography represents a key habitat component. We created a ruggedness layer for the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve and surrounding areas in northern Dornogobi Aimag (province), Mongolia. Using a 90 m Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation model (DEM) and ArcGIS 10 spatial analyst, we created 9 categories for ruggedness. When combined with other thematic layers such as vegetation, the ruggedness layer becomes a powerful tool for analyzing habitat use by individual animals. The results of such analyses may inform decision makers in protected area planning and conservation of endangered species

Creating a model of habitat suitability using vegetation and ruggedness for Ovis ammon and Capra sibirica (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) in Mongolia

Spatially-explicit wildlife habitat models, such as a Habitat Suitability Index Model (HSIM), are increasingly used to understand optimal environmental conditions needed for a species survival and viability. HSIM compares different environmental variables, including vegetation, slope, and aspect to determine optimal habitat for a species. HSIM can compare a species’ use of resources with availability and determine risks for a species viability. Furthermore, decision makers can use HSIM to make decisions regarding resources needed for species of concern and development of protected areas. We used a geographic information system to create a HSIM for Argali sheep (Ovis ammon) and Siberian ibex (Capra siberica), species of conservation concern in Mongolia. We used vegetation and ruggedness layers and compared argali and ibex use with habitat availability. Argali and ibex presence correlated with three habitat classes: dense rock, low-density shrub, and short grass/forb. We found no significance in correlation for ruggedness