Observations on the nesting characteristics and colony life of Mongolian social wasps are essential to the fi eld due to the peripheral locations of species distribution ranges and critical lack of such information. We found 35 nests of seven social wasp species, including three vespine species (Dolichovespula saxonica, D. media and Vespula vulgaris) and four polistine species (Polistes snelleni, P. riparius, P. nimpha and P. biglumis). Riparian woodland was the habitat where the most species (fi ve out of seven) nests were found. Nests of P. snelleni, Baikal-Far Eastern species, were found only in river cut banks, in holes probably originally excavated by passerine birds most likely sand martin (Riparia riparia). Nesting sites of D. saxonica were the most diverse (bank hole, underground, aerial and birch stump/logs). Colony size of vespine wasps in northern Mongolia was relatively small (36-60 individuals). Nests of Polistes species (except P. snelleni) were found frequently on the branches of willow (Salix sp.) and wild rose (Rosa acicularis). Other characteristics associated with each species nest were considered separately.
The Oyu Tolgoi (OT) project, one of the world's largest copper and gold mines, is located in Gobi Desert of Mongolia. To help meet its target of Net Positive Impact on key biodiversity features such as the Houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata) the OT installed bird fl ight diverters (BFDs include spiral and fl apper devices) to its power transmission lines to reduce the risk of birds hitting the wires. Despite the many studies demonstrating that BFDs reduce collision rates, we could fi nd no published information on malfunction rates of BFDs. In January 2013, we surveyed the physical function of 1,200 BFDs (e.g. 600 fl appers and 600 spirals) in three sample areas on each of four lines of varying voltage and structure. Of the 600 fl appers examined, 123 had malfunctioned within nine months of installation, while the malfunction rate of the 600 spirals studied was zero. Using a Generalized Linear Mixed Model, we found that the rate of fl apper malfunction increased with decreasing fl apper size and power line diameter. Further, the fl apper malfunction rate increased as the distance between poles increased. The cost of replacing malfunctioning BFDs is very high as there are serious health and safety constraints related to working with live wires. Factors aff ecting diverter malfunctioning need to be considered for future powerline projects and our information can serve as basis for developing national standards or regulations for powerline mitigation in Mongolia.
The geographic range analysis of 59 species of the family Vespidae (Hymenoptera) of northern Mongolia was performed using published sources and our own data. The longitude-latitudinal approach is supported for the chorological division. Chorological component of vespid fauna of northern Mongolia is mainly composed of Palaearctic polyzonal and sub-boreal species associated especially with sub-boreal semi-humid and sub-boreal semi-arid landscapes. Northern Mongolia together with Trans-Baikal region act as barrier to the latitudinal and longitudinal distribution of vespid wasps, and it can be called, as the BaikalMongolian faunal barrier. Four sub-endemic vespid species, Onychopterocheilus turovi (Kostylev, 1937), O. kiritshenkoi (Kostylev, 1940), Ancistrocerus rufopictus (Kostylev, 1940), Eumenes transbaicalicus Kurzenko, 1984 were defi ned to Mongolia.
The coarse ore storage (COS) facility is repeatedly identified by Oyu Tolgoi as a major source of dust that presented a significant risk to worker health and the environment. Dust monitoring and observations conducted since 2013 demonstrated high concentrations of airborne particulate that were likely to be exceeding air quality standards. Dust generation at the COS occurred from the discharge to the covered stockpile and resulted in fine particulate depositing on the ground surface surrounding the COS. A foam dust suppression system was added to the COS feed in November 2014, with observed and measured reduction in dust emissions. An analysis of dust-monitoring data indicates some reduction in airborne particulate as a result of the foam dust suppressant addition. However, the measured reduction is not as significant as is suggested from visual observation of the COS. Additionally, dust curtains installed in 2019 continue to manage dust at the COS facility. Moreover, we implement some operational mitigations at the facility, including area cleaning, watering, and keeping the COS stockpile to at least 70% capacity to minimise drop-down distances, thereby decreasing dust generation. The dust-monitoring dataset demonstrates the substantial positive impact the installation of dust curtains, and other mitigations, have achieved.
Determining the endemic species composition and their relative abundances of the beetle community in the desert and desert steppe of Mongolia is crucial for biodiversity conservation, and it is of great importance to evaluate the current state of the ecosystems. We aimed to determine the species richness, the dominant species composition and relative abundance of the endemic species, and their habitat characteristics around the Khanbogd Massif, which is an important representative of the East Gobi of Mongolia. We identified 1330 individuals of 20 species of 14 genera which belongs to four beetle families. More than 70 percent of them are belonging to the family of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae). Five species of darkling beetles, or 25 percent of the community were endemic species, and their relative abundances in the habitats with different vegetation cover ranges from 0.01 to 0.58. Among these endemic species, the darkling beetle Anatolica cechiniae Bogdanov-Кatjkov prefers extremely dry habitats while A. gobialtaica Kaszab prefers moist meadow habitats. However, abundances of the other three endemic species (Blaps femoralis rectispinus, A. sternalis gobiensis and Trigonoscelis sublaevigata granicollis) in the habitats were relatively low (1-12%). Two species of endemic beetles have been found only in the desert steppe habitat. There is a chance that the original state of nature will change as a result of recent climate change, which could lead to a decline in habitat quality and the loss of biological diversity. Therefore, it is essential to conduct in-depth habitat research in order to protect these endemic species with limited distribution and preserve them in their native ecosystems. Дорнод говийн цөлийн хээрт тохиолдох эндемик цохын олон янз байдал, амьдрах орчны онцлог Монгол орны цөл, цөлөрхөг хээрийн экосистемд тохиолдох цохын бүлгэмдэлд агуулагдаж буй эндемик цохын бүрдэл, уг зүйлүүдийн бүлгэмдэлд эзэлж буй хувийг тодорхойлох асуудал биологийн төрөл зүйлийн хамгаалал талаасаа маш чухал бөгөөд тухайн экосистемийн өнөөгийн төлөв байдлыг үнэлэхэд ихээхэн ач холбогдолтой юм. Бид энэхүү судалгаагаар Монгол орны Дорнод говийн чухал төлөөлөл болох Ханбогд уул орчмын цохын бүлгэмдлийн зүйлийн баялаг, бүлгэмдлийг бүрдүүлэгч гол төрөл зүйлийг тогтоох, бүлгэмдэлд эзлэх эндемик цохын хувь, тэдгээрийн амьдрах орчныг тодорхойлох зорилго тавин ажиллав. Нийт дөрвөн овгийн 14 төрлийн 20 зүйлд хамаарах 1330 бодгаль цох тодорхойлогдсоны 70 хувь нь хар цохын (Tenebrionidae) овогт хамаарч байна. Тус бүлгэмдэл дэх нийт зүйлийн 25 хувь буюу таван зүйл хар цох эндемик зүйлийн бүртгэлд орсон байх бөгөөд ургамлан нөмрөгийн хувьд ялгаатай амьдрах орчны хэлбэрүүдэд тохиолдох уг цохуудын харьцангуй элбэгшил 0.01 – 0.58 байна. Эдгээр эндемик зүйлүүдээс Anatolica cechiniae Bogdanov-Кatjkov хэмээх зүйл хэт хуурай амьдрах орчинд түгээмэл тохиолдож байхад A. gobialtaica Kaszab гэх хар цох бол чийг ихтэй нугын амьдрах орчныг шүтэн байршиж байна. Харин Blaps femoralis rectispinus, A. sternalis gobiensis болон Trigonoscelis sublaevigata granicollis гэх эндемик зүйлүүд уг бүлгэмдэлд бага хувь (1-12 %) эзэлж байв. Уг бүс нутагт тохиолдох орчны хэлбэрүүдээс шургамал цөлийн хээрт хоёр зүйл эндемик цох тэмдэглэгдсэн. Сүүлийн жилүүдэд илэрч буй уур амьсгалын өөрчлөлтийн нөлөөгөөр байгалийн унаган төлөвт өөрчлөлт орж, улмаар амьдрах орчин чанарын хувьд доройтох, биологийн төрөл зүйл хомсдох эрсдэл бий болоод байна. Иймд эдгээр хязгаарлагдмал тархалттай эндемик зүйлүүдийг хамгаалах, төрөлх экосистемд нь хадгалан авч үлдэхийн тулд цаашид амьдрах орчны судалгааг гүнзгийрүүлэн хийх шаардлагатай байна. Түлхүүр үгс: Эндемик цох, амьдрах орчин, Ханбогд, тархалт
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