Population Assessment of Khulan (\u3ci\u3eEquus hemionus\u3c/i\u3e) in Mongolia

The data presented here suggest that 18,411 (± 224) khulan inhabit southern Mongolia with a density of 1.4 individuals per 1,000 km2 within the 157,525 km2 territory of its actual distribution. The Dornogobi province contains the highest number of khulan with a mere 67%, while 20% are found in the Ömnögobi province, 12% are in Djungarian Gobi and only 1% in the Gobi-Altay and Bayankhongor provinces. According to the proportion of foals and yearlings within each aimag, the Dornogobi, Ömnögobi east and Khovd populations have an average reproduction rate

Capture of Ungulates in Central Asia Using Drive Nets: Advantages and Pitfalls Illustrated by the Endangered Mongolian Saiga Saiga Tatarica Mongolica

The study of mammals suffering intense poaching in remote areas poses an increasingly difficult conservation challenge, in part because the extreme flightiness of such species complicates safe capture. The benefits of handling (an opportunity to obtain biological information and attach radio collars) must be weighed against stress to the animals and potential capture-related mortality. In parts of Central Asia this problem is not trivial, as populations have been heavily harvested and opportunities for restraint are often limited. Mongolian saiga Saiga tatarica mongolica, being both Endangered and poached, typifies these issues. Here we describe capture protocols for adult females handled quickly and without anaesthesia. Using multiple vehicles driven at high speed, individual saiga were isolated from groups and herded into nets. Chase time was linearly associated with rectal temperature (P \u3c 0.03), with maximum pursuits and temperatures of 9 minutes and 43.1 degrees C, respectively; time to release averaged \u3c7 minutes. Given that rural residents often chase saiga and other desert and steppe-dwelling ungulates, for photography or for amusement, our results offer conservationists and government officials an empirical basis for recommending prudence on chase times and/or for recommending that the practice be prevented

Capture of ungulates in Central Asia using drive nets: advantages and pitfalls illustrated by the Endangered Mongolian saiga \u3ci\u3eSaiga tatarica mongolica\u3c/i\u3e

The study of mammals suffering intense poaching in remote areas poses an increasingly difficult conservation challenge, in part because the extreme flightiness of such species complicates safe capture. The benefits of handling (an opportunity to obtain biological information and attach radio collars) must be weighed against stress to the animals and potential capture-related mortality. In parts of Central Asia this problem is not trivial, as populations have been heavily harvested and opportunities for restraint are often limited. Mongolian saiga Saiga tatarica mongolica, being both Endangered and poached, typifies these issues. Here we describe capture protocols for adult females handled quickly and without anaesthesia. Using multiple vehicles driven at high speed, individual saiga were isolated from groups and herded into nets. Chase time was linearly associated with rectal temperature (P,0.03), with maximum pursuits and temperatures of 9 minutes and 43.1 degrees C, respectively; time to release averaged \u3c7 minutes. Given that rural residents often chase saiga and other desert and steppe-dwelling ungulates, for photography or for amusement, our results offer conservationists and government officials an empirical basis for recommending prudence on chase times and/or for recommending that the practice be prevented

Capture of ungulates in Central Asia using drive nets: advantages and pitfalls illustrated by the Endangered Mongolian saiga \u3ci\u3eSaiga tatarica mongolica\u3c/i\u3e

The study of mammals suffering intense poaching in remote areas poses an increasingly difficult conservation challenge, in part because the extreme flightiness of such species complicates safe capture. The benefits of handling (an opportunity to obtain biological information and attach radio collars) must be weighed against stress to the animals and potential capture-related mortality. In parts of Central Asia this problem is not trivial, as populations have been heavily harvested and opportunities for restraint are often limited. Mongolian saiga Saiga tatarica mongolica, being both Endangered and poached, typifies these issues. Here we describe capture protocols for adult females handled quickly and without anaesthesia. Using multiple vehicles driven at high speed, individual saiga were isolated from groups and herded into nets. Chase time was linearly associated with rectal temperature (P,0.03), with maximum pursuits and temperatures of 9 minutes and 43.1 degrees C, respectively; time to release averaged \u3c7 minutes. Given that rural residents often chase saiga and other desert and steppe-dwelling ungulates, for photography or for amusement, our results offer conservationists and government officials an empirical basis for recommending prudence on chase times and/or for recommending that the practice be prevented

A Risk Assessment of Gastric Cancer and Precancerous Condition Using Serum Pepsinogen and H. Pylori Antibody Test

Objectives: We aimed to determine serum PGs (serum pepsinogens) and H. Pylori IgG in atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer patients and evaluate the gastric cancer risk.Method: We enrolled 40 gastric cancer patients, 40 chronic atrophic gastritis patients and 40 healthy control subjects. Serum PGI, PGII, and H. pylori IgG levels were measured by ELISA. The PGI to PGII ratio was calculated.Results: The mean age of the subjects was 60±10.9 years, We found that 52.6% (n=60) were male. H. Pylori IgG was positive in 67 subjects. The serum PGI and PGR levels were significantly decreased in gastric cancer and atrophic gastritis groups compared to the healthy control. According to classification ABC (D), group D had higher proportion of atrophic gastritis cases, group C had higher proportion of gastric cancer cases than others. Additionally, we evaluated all subjects by giving one point to each of the age ≤40, positive family history of gastric cancer, positive previous gastric disease history, PGI ≤75.07 ng/ml, PGR ≤6.25, or two point to each of PGI ≤35.25 ng/ml, and PGR ≤5.27, with score ranging between 0-7. As score increased, the risk of atrophic gastritis or gastric cancer increased.Conclusion: A combination of methods involving PGs and other risk factors may predict the probability of gastric cancer and could identify individuals who may need upper endoscopy

Body size and digestive system shape resource selection by ungulates : a cross-taxa test of the forage maturation hypothesis

The forage maturation hypothesis (FMH) states that energy intake for ungulates is maximised when forage biomass is at intermediate levels. Nevertheless, metabolic allometry and different digestive systems suggest that resource selection should vary across ungulate species. By combining GPS relocations with remotely sensed data on forage characteristics and surface water, we quantified the effect of body size and digestive system in determining movements of 30 populations of hindgut fermenters (equids) and ruminants across biomes. Selection for intermediate forage biomass was negatively related to body size, regardless of digestive system. Selection for proximity to surface water was stronger for equids relative to ruminants, regardless of body size. To be more generalisable, we suggest that the FMH explicitly incorporate contingencies in body size and digestive system, with small-bodied ruminants selecting more strongly for potential energy intake, and hindgut fermenters selecting more strongly for surface water.DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : The dataset used in our analyses is available via Dryad repository (https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.jsxksn09f) following a year-long embargo from publication of the manuscript. The coordinates associated with mountain zebra data are not provided in an effort to protect critically endangered black rhino (Diceros bicornis) locations. Interested researchers can contact the data owner (Minnesota Zoo) directly for inquiries.https://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/elehj2022Mammal Research InstituteZoology and Entomolog

Population Assessment of Khulan (\u3ci\u3eEquus hemionus\u3c/i\u3e) in Mongolia

The data presented here suggest that 18,411 (± 224) khulan inhabit southern Mongolia with a density of 1.4 individuals per 1,000 km2 within the 157,525 km2 territory of its actual distribution. The Dornogobi province contains the highest number of khulan with a mere 67%, while 20% are found in the Ömnögobi province, 12% are in Djungarian Gobi and only 1% in the Gobi-Altay and Bayankhongor provinces. According to the proportion of foals and yearlings within each aimag, the Dornogobi, Ömnögobi east and Khovd populations have an average reproduction rate

Current Status and Conservation of Mountain Ungulates in Mongolia

In November 2009, we conducted a countrywide survey for wild sheep or argali and Siberian ibex. Field survey teams sampled in total 134 argali distribution units within Mongolia, which are estimated to occupy approximately 46,603 km² of the whole area of 60,237 km² that been previously mapped as populated by argali. They observed 385 groups of argali, totaling 3.373 individuals. Our point estimate of argali is 18,140 with a lower 95 % confidence limit of 9,193 and an upper 95 % confidence limit of 43,135. At the same time the authors observed 162 groups of ibex, totaling 2,541 individuals and our point estimate of ibex is 36,018 with a lower 95 % confidence limit of 13,840 and an upper 95 % confidence limit of 43,873. However, post-survey concerns about sampling in some aimags (provinces) and estimates derived previously allowed adjustments that resulted in the best single estimate for Mongolia being 17,903 ibex. Direct comparisons are difficult because the previous survey report lacked details of the areas visited, field methods, and analysis. Apparent increases or decreases in each aimag may be real, or may caused by differences in methods (HARRIS et al. 2010). The data indicate that legal trophy hunting and poaching do not appear to be limiting argali and ibex populations on a national scale. Mongolia\u27s climate and highly variable weather patterns appear to be the immediate limiting factors regulating argali and ibex populations. It is important that argali and ibex population trends be monitored every 3 to 5 years using the protocols reported here. The trend information reported here is the only information of its type, but should be considered as an initial effort. The more trend surveys that are conducted the less uncertainty there will be concerning the status of argali and Siberian ibex

Factors affecting survival and cause-specific mortality of saiga calves in Mongolia

Factors affecting juvenile survival are poorly known in the world’s most northern antelope, the endangered saiga (Saiga tatarica), yet these factors are fundamental for understanding what drives population change. We monitored Mongolia saiga (S. tatarica mongolica) calves in Sharga Nature Reserve, western Mongolia, during 2008–2010. Our results showed that male and single calves were heavier than females and twins, respectively. However, we identified no significant differences in seasonal or annual survival rates between sexes or between singletons and twins. Litter size and birth mass varied among years, and there was a negative relationship between these variables. Survival of calves during the 1st year was best explained by the covariates of year and litter size (confounded with body mass), suggesting that interannual variation in environmental conditions influenced twinning rates and body mass, and might play a key role in 1st-year survival. We identified 3 sources of mortality—predation by raptors, foxes (red fox [Vulpes vulpes] and corsac fox [V. corsac]), and lynx (Lynx lynx). Most predation was attributed to raptors, such as golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) and cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus). Our results point to both environmental and biotic factors affecting survival of juvenile saiga

Non-volant mammal inventory of western Mongolian-Manchurian Grassland Ecoregion: a biogeographic crossroad worth preserving

The extensive Mongolian grasslands hosts a high variety of micro-habitats which wildlife uses as corridors that enable species to expand their range. Between May 2017 and March 2018, we conducted an intensive survey in the Mongolian-Manchurian Grassland Ecoregion using camera trapping, field transects, live trapping and opportunistic observations, in mountain outcrops, grass steppe and sand dune habitats across seasons. Our aim was to compile the first satisfactory inventory of mammals based on scientific methods for a diverse landscape in the Mongolian provinces of Tov and Dundgovi. Furthermore, our research seeks to fill in knowledge gaps on species distribution and range expansions in the endangered west Mongolian-Manchurian Grassland ecoregion and identify biodiversity hotspot areas encompassed in this biogeographic crossroad. We recorded 31 species of non-volant mammals, including a globally Endangered species and two Near Threatened species, according to the IUCN Red List, and three species listed in Appendix II of CITES