A5068452403- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- Animal Diversity and Health Studies
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
- Veterinary Equine Medical Research
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Plant Toxicity and Pharmacological Properties
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Natural product bioactivities and synthesis
- Indigenous Studies and Ecology
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Toxoplasma gondii Research Studies
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- HIV Research and Treatment
Mongolian Academy of Sciences
2016-2025
University of London
2010
University of Bristol
2010
SOAS University of London
2010
Abstract The endangered snow leopard Panthera uncia occurs in rugged, high‐altitude regions of Central Asia. However, information on the status this felid is limited many areas. We conducted a pilot study to optimize moecular markers for analysis scat samples and examine feasibility using noninvasive genetic methods monitoring felid. designed leopard‐specific primers seven microsatellite loci that amplified shorter segments avoided flanking sequences shared with repetitive elements. By...
The endangered snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is widely but sparsely distributed throughout the mountainous regions of central Asia. Detailed information on status and abundance limited because logistical challenges faced when working in rugged terrain it occupies, along with its secretive nature. Camera-trapping noninvasive genetic techniques have been used successfully to survey this felid. We compared camera-trapping surveys Gobi Desert Mongolia. collected 180 putative scats from 3 sites...
The snow leopard, Panthera uncia, is an elusive high-altitude specialist that inhabits vast, inaccessible habitat across Asia. We conducted the first range-wide genetic assessment of leopards based on noninvasive scat surveys. Thirty-three microsatellites were genotyped and a total 683 bp mitochondrial DNA sequenced in 70 individuals. Snow exhibited low diversity at (AN = 5.8, HO 0.433, HE 0.568), virtually no mtDNA variation, underwent bottleneck Holocene (∼8000 years ago) coinciding with...
We evaluated the habitat selection of 101 den sites used by 21 individual Pallas’s cats ( Otocolobus manul (Pallas, 1776) = Felis Pallas, in summer, winter, and maternal period central Mongolia using generalized linear mixed models. rock crevices marmot burrows as dens for giving birth, raising young, thermoregulation, feeding, mating, important cover from predators. Den were selected with higher proportions rocky ravine habitats surroundings, winter avoided presence humans. Habitat...
Recent efforts by North American zoos to establish a genetically viable captive population of Pallas' cats (Otocolobus manul) have been compromised high newborn mortality (∼60%), primarily because toxoplasmosis. The basis for this extreme susceptibility toxoplasmosis is unknown. In the present study, general health status wild in Mongolia was evaluated, including assessment basal hematologic parameters and fecal corticoid metabolite concentrations. prevalence exposure Toxoplasma gondii...
Dietary plasticity and diet composition of Pallas's cat (Otocolobus manul) was quantified in central Mongolia. Diet assessed by scat analyses, prey surveys were used to estimate availability. Prey selection calculated using multinomial likelihood ratio tests. Analysis 146 scats identified 249 items. cats ate a broad range small mammals, insects, birds, reptiles, carrion, but Daurian pikas (Ochotona dauurica) the most frequently consumed prey. Multinomial tests indicated nonrandom species....
Ecologists have long sought to identify environmental and ecological traits influencing space use by individuals. Prey availability, habitat type, conspecific interactions, sex are cited as determinants of carnivore spatial behavior, although empirical evidence relationships between variables home-range size rare. We examined the relative importance different factors on behavior Pallas's cats (Otocolobus manul), mesocarnivores native montane steppes central Asia. Between 2005 2007 we...
Context. The ranges of many small, at-risk felid species occur almost entirely in unprotected areas, where research efforts are minimal; hence data on their density and activity patterns scare. Aims. We estimated Pallas’s cats lands central Mongolia during two periods (May–August September–November) 2019. Methods. used spatially explicit capture–recapture models to estimate population at 15.2 ± 4.8 individuals per 100 km2. Key results. obtained 484 cat images from 153 detections 4266...
Abstract Aim Snow leopards are distributed across the mountains of 12 countries spread 1.8 million km 2 in Central and South Asia. Previous efforts to map snow leopard distributions have relied on expert opinions modelling presence‐only data. Expert opinion is subjective its reliability difficult assess, while analyses data tended ignore imperfect detectability this elusive species. The study was conducted prepare first ever probabilistic distribution Mongolia addressing challenge detection....
Severe musculoskeletal diseases, such as those associated with congenital or traumatic events, that result in missing limbs may compromise the fitness and survival of free-living felids. Here we report space use four amputee individuals from three felid species captured 2017 to 2022 Missouri (USA), Toledo Badajoz (Spain), Suitai Khairkhan Mountain (Mongolia). We describe home ranges daily travel distances post-release felids had either suffered a amputation following surgical amputation....
The Pallas’s cat (Otocolobus manul) is one of the most understudied taxa in Felidae family. species currently assessed as being “Least Concern” IUCN Red List, but this assessment based on incomplete data. Additional ecological and genetic information necessary for long-term situ ex conservation species. We identified 29 microsatellite loci with sufficient diversity to enable studies into individual identification, population structure, phylogeography cats. These microsatellites were...
Abstract Snow leopards ( Panthera uncia ) inhabit the mountainous regions of High Asia, which experienced serial glacial contraction and expansion during climatic cycles Pleistocene. The corresponding impacts vicariance may have alternately promoted or constrained genetic differentiation to shape distribution lineages population structure. We studied snow leopard phylogeography across Asia by examining range-wide historical contemporary structure with mitochondrial DNA microsatellite...
Although the home range and habitat selection of animal species is among fundamental pieces biological information collected by research projects during recent decades, published on snow leopard ( Panthera uncia ) limited. The Altai Mountains central Asia contain some largest most important remaining conservation landscapes for leopards globally, but there a limited understanding species’ ecology in this region. First, we used data from 5 equipped with GPS collars at four study sites...
Abstract Snow leopards ( Panthera uncia ) serve as an umbrella species whose conservation benefits their high-elevation Asian habitat. Their numbers are believed to be in decline due numerous Anthropogenic threats; however, is hindered by knowledge gaps. They the least studied genetically of all big cat with more learn regarding population structure, historical size, and current levels genetic diversity. Here, we use whole-genome sequencing data for 41 snow (37 newly sequenced) offer new...
Studies on mammal diversity and distribution are an important source to develop conservation management strategies. The area located in southern Mongolia, encompassing the Alashan Plateau Semi-Desert Eastern Gobi Desert-Steppe ecoregions, is considered strategic for of threatened species. We surveyed non-volant mammals Small Gobi-A Strictly Protected Area (SPA) its surroundings, by using camera trapping, live occasional sightings. recorded 18 species belonging 9 families 6 orders. Among...