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Suryawanshi, K. R., Bhatnagar, Y., & Mishra, C. (2009). Why should a grazer browse? Livestock impact on winter resource use by bharal Pseudois nayaur
. Oecologia, , 1–10.
Abstract: Many mammalian herbivores show a temporal diet variation between graminoid-dominated and browse dominated diets. We determined the causes of such a diet shift and its implications for conservation of a medium sized ungulate-the bharal Pseudois nayaur. Past studies show that the bharal diet is dominated by graminoids (>80%) during summer, but the contribution of graminoids declines to about 50% in winter. We tested the predictions generated by two alternative hypotheses explaining the decline: low graminoid availability during winter causes bharal to include browse in their diet; bharal include browse, with relatively higher nutritional quality, in their diet to compensate for the poor quality of graminoids during winter. We measured winter graminoid availability in areas with no livestock grazing, areas with relatively moderate livestock grazing, and those with intense livestock grazing pressures. The chemical composition of plants contributing to the bharal diet was analysed. The bharal diet was quantiWed through signs of feeding on vegetation at feeding locations. Population structures of bharal populations were recorded using a total count method. Graminoid availability was highest in areas without livestock grazing, followed by areas with moderate and intense livestock grazing. The bharal diet was dominated by graminoids (73%) in areas with highest graminoid availability. Graminoid contribution to the bharal diet declined monotonically (50, 36%) with a decline in graminoid availability. Bharal young to female ratio was 3 times higher in areas with high graminoid availability than areas with low graminoid availability. The composition of the bharal winter diet was governed predominantly by the availability of graminoids in the rangelands. Our results suggest that bharal include more browse in their diet during winter due to competition from livestock for graminoids. Since livestock grazing reduces graminoid availability, creation of livestock-free areas is necessary for the conservation of grazing species such as the bharal and its predators including the endangered snow leopard in the Trans-Himalaya.
Keywords: browse; livestock; impact; winter; resource; use; bharal; Pseudois; pseudois nayaur; Pseudois-nayaur; nayaur; diet; variation; diets; conservation; Media; study; decline; areas; area; grazing; Pressure; plants; plant; sign; feeding; location; population; structure; populations; using; young; Female; times; High; Competition; species; predators; predator; endangered; snow; snow leopard; snow-leopard; leopard; trans-himalaya; transhimalaya
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Swanson, W. F. (2003). Research in Nondomestic Species: Experiences in Reproductive Physiology Research for Conservation of Endangered Felids (Vol. 4).
Abstract: Tremendous strides have been made in recent years to broaden our understanding of reproductive processes in nondomestic felid species and further our capacity to use this basic knowledge to control and manipulate reproduction of endangered cats. Much of that progress has culminated from detailed scientific studies conducted in nontraditional laboratory settings, frequently at collaborating zoological parks but also under more primitive conditions, including in the field. A mobile laboratory approach is described, which incorporates a diverse array of disciplines and research techniques. This approach has been extremely useful, especially for conducting gamete characterization and function studies as well as reproductive surveys, and for facilitating the development of assisted reproductive technology. With continuing advances in assisted reproduction in rare felids, more procedures are being conducted primarily as service-related activities, targeted to increase effectiveness of species propagation and population management. It can be a challenge for both investigators and institutional animal care and use committees (IACUCs) to differentiate these service-based procedures from traditional research studies (that require IACUC oversight). For research with rare cat species, multi-institutional collaboration frequently is necessary to gain access to scientifically meaningful numbers of study subjects. Similarly, for service-based efforts, the ability to perform reproductive procedures across institutions under nonstandard laboratory conditions is critical to applying reproductive sciences for managing and preserving threatened cat populations. Reproductive sciences can most effectively assist population management programs (e.g., Species Survival Plans) in addressing conservation priorities if these research and service- related procedures can be conducted “on the road” at distant national and international locales. This mobile laboratory approach has applications beyond endangered species research, notably for other scientific fields (e.g., studies of hereditary disease in domestic cat models) in which bringing the laboratory to the subject is of value.
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Thapa, K. (2005). Is their any correlation between abundance of blue sheep population and livestock depredation by snow leopards in the Phu Valley, Manang District, Annapurna Conservation Area? Final report.
Abstract: This study was undertaken in the Phu valley of Manang district in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal,
Spring, 2004 and 2005. I used the Snow Leopard Management Information System (“second order” survey technique), to determine the relative abundance of snow leopards in delineated areas in Phu valley. Transects routes were plotted by randomly selected feasible landforms such as along ridgelines, cliff bases and river bluffs where snow leopards sign is likely to be found. Altogether, 16 transects (total length of 7.912 km) were laid down (mean transect length=0.495 km). They revealed, 54 sign sites (both relic and non-relic) and altogether 88 signs (72 scrapes, 11 feces, 3 scent mark, 2 pugmarks and 1 hair) were recorded (6.8 site/km and 11.1 signs/km). There were 61.1% non-relic and 38.9% relic sites. The density of snow leopards in Phu Valley may be 4-5 snow leopards/100 kmý.It was found that the Ghyo block had the highest sign density (13.6 mean sign item/km) and Phu block (9.8 mean sign item/km) and the lowest in Ngoru block (3.9 mean sign item/km.). For blue sheep, direct count method was applied from different appropriate vantage points (fixed-point count). I counted total individuals in each herd and classified all individuals whenever possible, using 8 X24 binocular and 15-60x spotting scope. A total 37 blue sheep herds and 1209 individuals were observed in 192.25 kmý of the study area (blue sheep density, 6.3 kmý). Average herd size was 32.68. Herd size varied from 1 to 103 animals (the largest so far recorded). The average sex ratio male to female for the entire survey area was 0.67. Recruitment rate was 47.13. The ratio of yearlings to adult female was 0.45. In Ghyo block had total 168 blue sheep (area, 44.08 km2 or 3.8/ km2 i.e. 137.2 kg/ kmý). Blue sheep density in Ngoru block showed 4.7/km2 (area, 65.47 km2). Highest density of blue sheep among three blocks was recorded in Phu block, 8.9/km2 (or 320 kg/km2) in its 82.70 km2 area. A standard questionnaire was designed, and interviews conducted for relevant information was collected on livestock depredation patterns (total household survey). Out of 33 households surveyed, 30 reported that they had livestock depredation by the snow leopard in 2004. Altogether 58 animals were reportedly lost to snow leopards (3.1% of the total mortality). Out of the estimated standing available biomass (1, 83,483kg) in the Phu valley at least 2220 kg or 1.3% of the total livestock biomass was consumed by snow leopards in the year of our study (2004). It was estimated that in the Phu valley annually 1.8 animals were lost per household to snow leopards. This means approx. Rs.413560 (US$ 5,908) is lost annually in the valley (US$ 179/household/annum). Ghyo block, had the highest animals loss (53.4%), followed by Phu block (36.2%) and Ngoru block (10.3%) to snow leopards. There is positive correlation among the densities of blue sheep, relative abundance of the snow leopard and livestock depredation. Blue sheep is the main prey species of the snow leopard in Phu valley and its conservation therefore matters to reduce livestock depredation. A general patterns appears here that shows that blue sheep (prey) abundance determine snow leopard (predator) abundance and that livestock depredation by snow leopards may be minimal where there is good population of blue sheep, and vice versa. Keywords: abundance; blue; blue sheep; blue-sheep; sheep; population; livestock; livestock depredation; livestock-depredation; depredation; snow; snow leopards; snow leopard; snow-leopards; snow-leopard; leopards; leopard; valley; Manang; annapurna; annapurna conservation area; Annapurna-Conservation-Area; conservation; area; Report; project; International; international snow leopard trust; International-Snow-Leopard-Trust; trust; program; Nepal
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Thorel, M. F., Karoui, C., Varnerot, A., Fleury, C., & Vincent, V. (1998). Isolation of Mycobacterium bovis from baboons, leopards and a sea-lion. Vet Res, 29(2), 207–212.
Abstract: This study reports on two series of cases of Mycobacterium bovis infection in zoo animals. The first was in a captive population of baboons (Papio hamadryas) and the second in a mixed group of wild mammals, including four leopards (Panthera uncia and Panthera pardus) and a sea-lion (Otaria byrona). The isolation and identification of strains of M. bovis confirmed the presence of M. bovis infections in both zoos. The epidemiological study using genetic markers such as the IS6110-based DNA fingerprinting system made it possible to differentiate between M. bovis strains. The M. bovis strains isolated from baboons were shown to contain a single IS6110 copy, as usually do cattle isolates, whereas the M. bovis strains isolated from the other exotic animals presented multiple copies. This finding suggests that the origin of the contamination for the baboons in zoo A could be related to cattle. The origin of the contamination for the leopards and sea-lion in zoo B is more difficult to determine. In conclusion, the authors suggest some recommendations for avoiding outbreaks of tuberculosis infections in zoos.
Keywords: Animal; Animals; zoo; Carnivora; microbiology; Case; Report; Cattle; Dna; Fingerprinting; Transposable; Elements; Disease; Outbreaks; veterinary; France; Genome; Bacterial; Germany; Male; Monkey; Diseases; diagnosis; epidemiology; Mycobacterium; Infections; bovis; classification; isolation; purification; Papio; Seals; browse; 440
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Anonymous. (1996). Trade continues in snow leopard skins. Snow Line, Xiv.
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Trepanier, L. A., Cribb, A. E., Spielberg, S. P., & Ray, K. (1998). Deficiency of cytosolic arylamine N-acetylation in the domestic cat and wild felids caused by the presence of a single NAT1-like gene. Pharmacogenetics, 8(2), 169–179.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the molecular basis for a relative deficiency in the cat of cytosolic arylamine N- acetyltransferase (NAT), an enzyme family that is important in the metabolism of xenobiotics and that normally consists of at least two related enzymes, NAT1 and NAT2. N-acetyltransferase in feline liver showed high affinity (mean Km = 2.1 microM) for p-aminobenzoic acid, an NAT1 selective substrate in humans and rabbits, but showed a very poor affinity (mean Km > 10 mM) for sulfamethazine, an NAT2 selective substrate in humans and rabbits. Immunoreactive N-acetyltransferase was detected in feline liver, bladder and colon using an NAT1-specific antipeptide antibody, but was not detected in any tissues using an NAT2- specific antibody. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA demonstrated a single band in domestic cats using each of six restriction digests; single bands were also found on Southern blot analysis of six wild felids. The deduced amino acid sequence of the central portion of feline N-acetyltransferase, obtained by polymerase chain reaction amplification in both domestic cats and seven wild felids (lion, tiger, lynx, snow leopard, bobcat, Asian leopard cat and cheetah), contained three residues, Phe125, Arg127, and Tyr129, which determine NAT1-like substrate specificity in humans. These results support the conclusion that cytosolic arylamine N-acetylation activity is low in the cat because of the presence of a single N-acetyltransferase that has substrate specificity, immunogenicity and sequence characteristics similar to human NAT1, and that the unusual presence of only a single N- acetyltransferase gene appears to be a family wide trait shared by other felids.
Keywords: Acetylation; Amino; Acid; Sequence; Animal; Arylamine; N-Acetyltransferase; metabolism; Base; Blotting; Southern; Carnivora; genetics; Cats; Cytosol; enzymology; Dna; Human; Isoenzymes; Liver; Molecular; Data; Polymerase; Chain; Reaction; Rabbits; Homology; Nucleic Acid; Substrate; Specificity; Support; U.S.Gov't; P.H.S.; browse; nucleic; us; government; 130
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Trivedi, P. (2009). Project Snow Leopard: Participatory conservation model for the Indian Himalaya. Mountain Forum Bulletin, Ix(2), 52–54.
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Turner, L. (1980). Oklahoma City Zoo-Twenty Nine Snow Leopards. Int.Ped Book of Snow Leopards, 2, 96–111.
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Tursun, H., Wenhu, Y., & Meng, X. H. (2000). Great Exploitation of the West and the Basic Thoughts of the Great Development Strategy of Xinjiang. Arid Land Geography, 23(3), 193–198.
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Usgs, & International Snow Leopard Trust. (1995). Snow Leopard Habitat Map. Pakistan: ISLT and World Wide Fund for Nature - Pakistan.
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