SNOW LEOPARD NETWORK

SNOW LEOPARD SURVIVAL STRATEGY RESEARCH TOPIC TABLES

The Snow Leopard Survival Strategy incorporates 31 topics in the "Research and Information Needs" section (beginning on page 47 of the SLSS), all of which require further study in order to effectively conserve snow leopards, their habitat, and their prey species. These research tables address the need for five specific areas of snow leopard study: Status and Distribution, Ecology and Natural History, Native Ecosystems, Coexistance with Humans, and Integrated Approaches. The SLSS research topics are organized in these tables according to which umbrella issue they address, giving the significance, examples, and further research needs for each. To reference work that is already being done on these issues, see the "Case Studies" listed under each research topic in the SLSS.

Table 2-1: Status and Distribution
Research Topic	Significance	Examples	Highest Priority Regions	Current Projects
Snow Leopards
R.1 Distribution & “hot spots”	Current & historic areas occupied by snow leopards, including identification of most densely populated sites	Most habitat range estimates use old data. Improved digital imagery & existing SLIMS data can be used to update models	All	Case Studies R.1
R.3 Population Size	Establish current or baseline population size & trend in order to gauge effectiveness of conservation actions.	Estimates often based on limited survey data (including indirect indices such as sign density).	All	Case Studies R.3
R.26 Monitoring technique development/improvement	Modern non-invasive monitoring techniques must be incorporated to study range & distribution	In addition to traditional sign transects, new non-invasive methods include photo-trap camera surveys & DNA genotyping from hair & fecal samples.	HIMLY, CISWC, RW	Case Studies R.26
Prey Species
R.8 Distribution & “hot spots”	Knowing prey species abundance helps researchers identify potential range & validate snow leopard population size estimates.	Methods include traditional prey surveys, building a habitat model for each prey species & creating a prey distribution database	HIMLY, KK/HK, NRANG	Case Studies R.8
R.9 Baseline & trends	Knowing prey trends & causes of change would allow researchers to interpret snow leopard population changes.	Baseline population estimates needed in selected critical habitats in support of long-term monitoring. See R.8	HIMLY, KK/HK, NRANG	Case Studies R.9
Other
R-X1 Census & survey techniques development/improvement	Estimating ungulate populations in mountainous terrain requires special techniques to address questions of detectability.	Research on reliability of different methods of counting large & small prey species is desirable.	All

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SNOW LEOPARD SURVIVAL STRATEGY RESEARCH TOPIC TABLES

Table 2-1: Status and Distribution