Abstract: Olfactory communication is important for many solitary carnivores to delineate territories and communicate with potential mates and competitors. Pallas’s cats (Otocolobus manul) are small felids with little published research on their ecology and behaviour, including if they avoid or change behaviours due to dominant carnivores. We studied their olfactory communication and visitation at scent-marking sites using camera traps in two study areas in Mongolia. We documented four types of olfactory communication behaviours, and olfaction (sniffing) was the most frequent. Pallas’s cats used olfactory communication most frequently at sites that were not visited by snow leopards (Panthera uncia) and when they used communal scent-marking sites, they were more likely to use olfactory communication when a longer time had elapsed since the last visit by a snow leopard. This suggests that Pallas’s cats may reduce advertising their presence in response to occurrence of snow leopards, possibly to limit predation risk.

Abstract: Understanding how landscapes affect animal movements is key to effective conservation and management (Rudnick et al., 2012; Zeller et al., 2012). Movement defines animal home ranges, where animals generally access resources such as food and mates, and also their dispersal and exploratory forays. These movements are important for individual survival and fitness through genetic exchange within and between populations and for colonization of unoccupied habitats (Baguette et al., 2013; MacArthur & Wilson, 1967). Dispersal and exploratory movements typically occur when young animals leave their natal range and establish more permanent home ranges (Greenwood, 1980; Howard, 1960). In mammals, natal dispersal of males is usually more frequent and happens over greater distances compared with that of females (Clobert et al., 2001; Greenwood, 1980).

Abstract: Adaptations to arid environments, involving strategies to conserve and utilize water, are vital for wildlife. Water availability in these regions depends on seasonal rainfall, and subsequently affect species distribution and behavior. This note documents a snow leopard (Panthera uncia) in the Tost Mountains of southern Mongolia digging for water, a previously undocumented behavior. The first author identified evidence of snow leopards digging for water. Camera traps were then used in an attempt to document this behavior. Unique pelt patterns identified one snow leopard digging for water in the summer of 2022, with drinking observed. Other species also drank at the site, suggesting snow leopards could act as ecological engineers by providing water for other species. Four other snow leopards were observed to visit the site in the late fall, winter, and early spring of 2022 and 2023. These snow leopards did not dig or drink, but this may largely have been related to subzero temperatures (-15°C to -30°C) and the ground being frozen for most of this period. The snow leopard digging for and exposing water may help to support biodiversity in desert ecosystems. However, further research is needed to determine its prevalence and impact. Understanding these strategies is crucial for conservation, especially with increasing droughts and extreme weather in arid landscapes.

Abstract: Many carnivores rely on marking behavior for intraspecific communication with potential mates and competitors, using scent and visual markings to advertise their use of a territory and allow potential mates to assess their quality. However, obtaining data on communication behaviors of rare and elusive animals can be challenging. To better understand marking behavior of snow leopard (Panthera uncia), we combined camera-trapping, snow-tracking and transect counts of scrapes in the Altai Mountains, Mongolia, and measured frequencies of communication behaviors in both space and time. Next, we explored if this information could be used to improve the efficiency of snow leopard population monitoring through camera-trapping. Using the combination of all three methods, we detected seven communication behaviors. Most visits at marking sites began with sniffing (recorded at 56.4% visits) before progressing to other behaviors. Urine spraying
(17.7% of visits) and scraping (16.8%) were exhibited at significantly more visits than other communication behaviors (flehmen, head/body rubbing, fecal deposition, claw marking). According to the snow-tracking data conducted in optimal habitats, scraping was the most frequent marking behavior with 12.8 scrapes/km, followed by urine marking with 10.5 marks/km. Along 32 transects, we recorded a mean of 8.0 cumulative scrapes/km, with highest marking rates recorded in gorges, which we recommend as prime habitats for deploying camera-traps. Finally, our results suggest that the number of scrapes observed at potential camera-trapping sites represents a good predictor of snow leopard visitation rate. Therefore, this parameter can be used when choosing camera-trapping locations to increase the efficiency of monitoring programs.