ongolian Marmot Crisis: Status of the Siberian Marmot in the Eastern Steppe
Siberian marmots ( Marmota sibirica ) are important members of the Mongolian steppe ecosystem and local human economy. Recent declines in marmot numbers have forced the Mongolian govern- ment to ban marmot hunting for at least two years. The main objectives for this stu...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
National University of Mongolia
2006-06-01
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| Series: | Mongolian Journal of Biological Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://mjbs.num.edu.mn/uploads/files/MJBS%20Volume%204%20Number%201%20June%202006/pdf/mjbs004-01-04.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818263044809031680 |
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| author | Susan E. Townsend Peter Zahler |
| author_facet | Susan E. Townsend Peter Zahler |
| author_sort | Susan E. Townsend |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Siberian marmots (
Marmota sibirica
) are important members of the Mongolian steppe ecosystem
and local human economy. Recent declines in marmot numbers have forced the Mongolian govern-
ment to ban marmot hunting for at least two years. The main objectives for this study were to develop
a baseline understanding of current marmot distribution and density in the Eastern Steppe of Mongo-
lia (Dornod, Sukhbaatar, and Khentii aimags). We conducted line transects across the Eastern Steppe
during pup emergence from June through July 2005. These distance sampling surveys detected active
and inactive marmot colonies (“burrow clusters”), marmots, and other wildlife (primarily carnivores,
ungulates and raptors) along our transects; we used the program DISTANCE to estimate densities. Our
density estimates, and particularly our population estimates, indicate a much more severe decline than
noted in other published studies. We discuss our
fi
ndings on raptors, wild ungulates and mammalian
carnivores in the context of other published and anecdotal information. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T19:12:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f9398bde009f4384aa4138f65960e3c9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1684-3908 2225-4994 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T19:12:46Z |
| publishDate | 2006-06-01 |
| publisher | National University of Mongolia |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Mongolian Journal of Biological Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-f9398bde009f4384aa4138f65960e3c92022-12-22T00:14:49ZengNational University of MongoliaMongolian Journal of Biological Sciences1684-39082225-49942006-06-0141374410.22353/mjbs.2006.04.04ongolian Marmot Crisis: Status of the Siberian Marmot in the Eastern SteppeSusan E. Townsend0Peter Zahler1Wildlife Ecology and Consulting, 709 56th St, Oakland, California, USAWildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10460 USASiberian marmots ( Marmota sibirica ) are important members of the Mongolian steppe ecosystem and local human economy. Recent declines in marmot numbers have forced the Mongolian govern- ment to ban marmot hunting for at least two years. The main objectives for this study were to develop a baseline understanding of current marmot distribution and density in the Eastern Steppe of Mongo- lia (Dornod, Sukhbaatar, and Khentii aimags). We conducted line transects across the Eastern Steppe during pup emergence from June through July 2005. These distance sampling surveys detected active and inactive marmot colonies (“burrow clusters”), marmots, and other wildlife (primarily carnivores, ungulates and raptors) along our transects; we used the program DISTANCE to estimate densities. Our density estimates, and particularly our population estimates, indicate a much more severe decline than noted in other published studies. We discuss our fi ndings on raptors, wild ungulates and mammalian carnivores in the context of other published and anecdotal information.http://mjbs.num.edu.mn/uploads/files/MJBS%20Volume%204%20Number%201%20June%202006/pdf/mjbs004-01-04.pdfdistance samplingkeystonemarmotMarmota sibiricaMongolia |
| spellingShingle | Susan E. Townsend Peter Zahler ongolian Marmot Crisis: Status of the Siberian Marmot in the Eastern Steppe Mongolian Journal of Biological Sciences distance sampling keystone marmot Marmota sibirica Mongolia |
| title | ongolian Marmot Crisis: Status of the Siberian Marmot in the Eastern Steppe |
| title_full | ongolian Marmot Crisis: Status of the Siberian Marmot in the Eastern Steppe |
| title_fullStr | ongolian Marmot Crisis: Status of the Siberian Marmot in the Eastern Steppe |
| title_full_unstemmed | ongolian Marmot Crisis: Status of the Siberian Marmot in the Eastern Steppe |
| title_short | ongolian Marmot Crisis: Status of the Siberian Marmot in the Eastern Steppe |
| title_sort | ongolian marmot crisis status of the siberian marmot in the eastern steppe |
| topic | distance sampling keystone marmot Marmota sibirica Mongolia |
| url | http://mjbs.num.edu.mn/uploads/files/MJBS%20Volume%204%20Number%201%20June%202006/pdf/mjbs004-01-04.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT susanetownsend ongolianmarmotcrisisstatusofthesiberianmarmotintheeasternsteppe AT peterzahler ongolianmarmotcrisisstatusofthesiberianmarmotintheeasternsteppe |