ASSESSMENT OF THE LONG-TAILED GORAL (NAEMORHEDUS CAUDATUS: BOVIDAE) POPULATION STATUS IN THE SIKHOTE-ALIN RESERVE USING CAMERA-TRAPS
Journal Title: Nature Conservation Research. Заповедная наука - Year 2017, Vol 2, Issue 0
Abstract
The Long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) is a rare mountain ungulate animal species with a mosaic range. In the Sikhote-Alin Reserve, the goral is located at the northern limit of its distribution. The main part of its population is concentrated in the coastal area, in the Abrek natural landmark. In the early XX century, the goral occupied another small area along the coast – 20 km south of the Abrek natural landmark. Currently, the total area of species' habitats is only 7.1 km2. The aim of this study was to assess the population size, population density and some demographic parameters of the goral population. Also, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the photo-trap method which is a new approach to the study and monitoring of this rare species. Accounting studies in the Abrek natural landmark were carried out in October 2014 – January 2015 (1401 trap-days); also, at the same time we worked in the second area during three seasons (2014–2017, 1326 trap-days). Estimation of the abundance and annual survival of the goral has been carried out using stochastic «capture – recapture» models presented in the software MARK. In the Abrek natural landmark for an effective area of 4 km2 (63% of this habitat's area), the average density of the goral population was 15.4 animals per km2 (CI 95% = 14.6–18.2 individuals per km2), in the second area (0.7 km2) completely accounted – 21.0 individuals per km2 (CI 95% = 20.1–28.6 individuals per km2). The total abundance of goral individuals in the Reserve remains, apparently, at the level of the late 1980s. And currently it is about 110–140 individuals. According to our preliminary data, the total annual survival in the first year was 0.73 (CI 95% = 0.41–0.91), and by the end of the second year it was 0.72 (CI 95% = 0.31–0.93). Female animals have prevailed in the population structure, and the sex ratio for adult animals was 1:1.5. The fertility rate was 0.61. In comparison with the data obtained in the late 1970s, currently the age and sex structure of the goral population has changed somewhat, and the rate of reproduction has decreased. The use of photo-traps significantly improves the quality of the goral population monitoring. However, photo-trap monitoring is a fairly expensive and time-consuming process. So it is advisable to apply this method in habitats which are most important for conservation of this rare species.
Authors and Affiliations
Olga Yu. Zaumyslova, Svetlana N. Bondarchuk
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP325721
- DOI 10.24189/ncr.2017.024
- Views 124
- Downloads 0
GENETIC POLYMORPHISM IN AMPHIBIAN POPULATIONS OF PROTECTED AREAS IN THE SOUTH OF WESTERN SIBERIA AND THE URALS
Amphibians are an important but vulnerable component of biodiversity. Climatic changes and anthropogenic transformation of the environment can lead to changes in spawning times and habitat boundaries, causing adverse gen...
SPECIES DIVERSITY AND SUCCESSIONAL DYNAMICS IN THE SECONDARY FOREST OF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY BIOLOGICAL GARDENS ILE-IFE, NIGERIA
Forests worldwide are being continuously disturbed by human activities and natural events, and tropical rainforest disturbance is specifically pronounced as indicated by its low biodiversity status. This study examined t...
CAMERA TRAPS TO STUDY THE FOREST ELEPHANT'S (LOXODONTA CYCLOTIS) RESPONSE TO CHILLI PEPPER REPELLENT DEVICES IN GAMBA, GABON
In Central Africa, Gabon is a forested country with a rich biodiversity where conflict between wild animals and humans is common and causes innumerable damage to crops. The worst crop raiders are elephants, which can des...
BENTHOS MICROALGAE OF THE LEBYAZHY’I OSTROVA RESERVE IN THE BLACK SEA
The paper presents for the first time a list of the benthic microalgae of the Lebyazhy'i Ostrova Reserve, including the Karkinitsky Gulf and Sary-Bulatsky liman. During 2015 and 2016, 78 taxa were found: Bacillariophyta...
HYDROCHEMICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF STATE NATIONAL NATURE PARK “KOLSAY KOLDERI” LAKES (KUNGEI ALATAU, SOUTH-EASTERN KAZAKHSTAN)
In August 2015 four ultrafresh mountain lakes of Kolsay National Nature Park, located at an altitude of 1829–3170 m a.s.l., were examined. The water mineralization of the lakes decreased from 123.9 to 26.6 mg/dm3 with de...