Abstract: Blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) are the main prey of the endangered snow leopard (Panthera uncia) as well as an important game species in Nepal. A knowledge of how blue sheep utilize their habitat is essential for the scientific management of the sheep and for the conservation of the snow leopard, but we only have a limited understanding of this aspect of blue sheep ecology. I studied the habitat use pattern of blue sheep by direct observation in the Anna-purna Conservation Area, Nepal where they occur sympatrically with the snow leopard. The sheep used grassland habitats more frequently during pre-parturition (spring) and post-parturition (autumn) than other habitat types, but scrub and grassland habitats were used equally frequently during the rut (winter). The sheep used smooth undulating slopes of medium steepness (<40 degrees) on southerly aspects within the elevation range of 4,200-4,600 m most frequently in all seasons, and there was no evidence of seasonal migration along the elevation gradient. When not in broken landforms (e.g., cliff, landslides), the sheep maintained proximity (less than or equal to 150 m) to such features suggesting their importance as escape cover (i.e., from predators). The use of habitat components by blue sheep appeared to be related to the distribution of foraging areas and escape cover.

Abstract: Context: The accurate estimation of landscape resistance to movement is important for ecological understanding and conservation applications. Rigorous estimation of resistance requires validation and optimization. One approach uses genetic data for the optimization or validation of resistance models. Objectives We used a genetic dataset of snow leopards from China to evaluate how landscape genetics resistance models varied across genetic distances and spatial scales of analysis. We evaluated whether landscape genetics models were superior to models of resistance derived from habitat suitability or isolation-by-distance.
Methods: We regressed genetically optimized, habitat-based, and isolation-by-distance hypotheses against genetic distances using mixed effect models. We explored all subset combinations of genetically optimized variables to find the most supported resistance scenario for each genetic distance.
Results: Genetically optimized models always out-performed habitat-based and isolation-by-distance hypotheses. The choice of genetic distances influenced the apparent influence of variables, their spatial scales and their functional response shapes, producing divergent resistance scenarios. Gene flow in snow leopards was largely facilitated by areas of intermediate ruggedness at intermediate elevations corresponding to small-to-large valleys within and between the mountain ranges.
Conclusions: This study highlights that landscape genetics models provide superior estimation of functional dispersal than habitat surrogates and suggests that optimization of genetic distance should be included as an optimization routine in landscape genetics, along with variables, scales, effect size and functional response shape. Furthermore, our study provides new insights on the ecological conditions that promote gene flow in snow leopards, which expands ecological knowledge, and we hope will improve conservation planning.

Abstract: Juneau biologist Tom McCarthy will make one last trip to Mongolla to finish researching snow leopards – which are poached for their pelts and killed for the medicinal value of their bones – so he can recommend ways to preserve the elusive animals and their habitat

Abstract: The recent development of potent and specifica lphar-adrenoceptoar gonistsa nd antagonists has enhanced their use in nondomestic animal immobilization and reversal. Medetomidine, a new potent alphar-agonist, in combination with the dissociative anesthetic ketamine, has been used to immobilize a variety of nondomestic mammals. Medetomidine alone induces sedation in a dose-dependent way, and complete immobilization has been achieved with high doses in semidomesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) and blue foxes (Alopex lagopus). Howbver, we feel that ketamine should be added to the immobilization mixture to ensure complete immobilization and operator safety. In ketamine combinations, medetomidine doses are usually 60-100 pg/kg. The required ketamine doses are remarkably low:0.8-1.6 mglkg in most ruminants,2.5-3.0 mgUgin felids,u rsids,a nd canids,a nd 5.G-8.0m glkgi n primates,w olverines(Gulog ulo),ando therm uitelids. Clinically, the resulting immobilization is characterized by a smooth onset, good to excellent myorelaxation, and areflexia at higher doses. Determinations of hematologic, serum biochemicil, arterial blood gas,a nd acid-bases tatusp arametersi ndicate that the immobilization is physiologically sound. We have had no fatalities attributable to the immobilization mixture ( I ,240 immobilizations). The alphar-adrenoceptora ntagonist,a tipamezole,i s highly efective in reversingt he immobilization induced by medetomidine, medetomidine-ketamine combinations, or xylazine. In ruminants, the medetomidine-ketamine-induced immobilization can be rapidly and persistently reversed by administering 100-l 50 1rg/kg of alipamezole i.v. and the rest s.c., adjusting the total atipamezole dose to an atipamezole: medetomidine ratio of approximately 4-5 (w/w). Becauseth e required ketamine doses are relatively high in carnivores, we prefer to use a lower atipamezole dose (totil atipamezoie: medetomidine ratio approximately 2-3 w/w) and to administer it i.m. or s.c. Using thii regimen, reversals are calm and animals show minimal “residual ketamine effect.” Because atipamezole is a competitive antagonist, its dose should be reduced if it is administered late in the immobilization period when a large part of medetomidine has been endogenously metabolized. Xylazine-induced immobilization is rapidly reversed by I mg of atipamezole for every 8-12 mg of xylazine used.