Impacts of grassland fence on the behavior and habitat area of the critically endangered Przewalski’s gazelle around the Qinghai Lake

Abstract

The trend of fencing grassland as livestock paddocks is spreading on the Eurasian steppe, however, its impacts on grassland wildlife are little known. In order to explore such impacts, we carried out a field study on how grassland fencing impacts Przewalski's gazelle (Procapra przewalskii), a species listed as EN (Endangered) by SSC/IUCN, on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The results revealed that (1) in the fenced areas, daily movement distance of Przewalski's gazelle was 5081±1187 m (Hudong-Ketu) and 4110±912 m (Yuanzhe), which was much shorter than the 7223±546 m recorded in an unfenced area (Kuaierma); (2) the feeding bout duration of Przewalski's gazelle was much shorter in the fenced habitat; (3) the frequency of walking along both high or low fence lines reached about 81%; while the frequency of jumping across the low fence line was only about 1.2% and frequency of crawling through the bottom of the high fence lines was about 17.8%; (4) the size of post-fencing habitat decreased to about 20% and 6% of the sizes of pre-fencing habitat in Hudong-Ketu and Yuanzhe areas respectively, but no clear change in the size of habitat area was found in the unfenced Kuaierma area; and (5) the fence lines impaired the possibility of gazelles to escape from predators and occasionally trapped the Przewalski's gazelle which failed to jump over the fence lines. Death occurrence of Przewalski's gazelle in the intensively fenced area, including gazelles strangled by fence lines and predated by wolves, reached 5% of the population size in Yuanzhe and up to 15%-20% in Hudong-Ketu. This study highlights the negative impacts of grassland fencing on Przewalski's gazelle and proposes measures for integrating conservation of this gazelle with livestock management practice. Procapra przewalskii, fence line, habitat, livestock, range management Citation:You Z Q, Jiang Z G, Li C W, et al. Impacts of grassland fence on the behavior and habitat area of the critically endangered Przewalski's gazelle around the Qinghai Lake.

Metapopulation viability of a globally endangered gazelle on the Northeast Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

“…The population decline and range reduction seen in Przewalski's gazelle have both been strongly influenced by human activities (Li et al, 1999(Li et al, , 2012You et al, 2013). This gazelle was once on the brink of extinction (Jiang et al, 2000) and now only a few remnant subpopulations remain (Li et al, 2012).…”

“…The intensity of these threats varies across subpopulations (Li et al, 2012) but is high in most subpopulations examined in this study. You et al (2013) reported negative impacts of grassland fencing on Przewalski's gazelle, such as decreasing the size of their habitat and increasing mortality rate. Although some conservation facilities, including fenced passages between habitat areas and artificial watering pools were established in 2008, these are not yet being effectively used by the gazelles (Li et al, 2012).…”

“…Paddock fences within the gazelles' range impair their ability to escape predators and can strangle individuals (Li et al, 2012;You et al, 2013). Przewalski's gazelles have changed their diurnal pattern of activities in response to human activities, shortening the average distance traveled each day, reducing the extent of habitat used, and reducing the duration of a given feeding bout, all of which may directly and/or indirectly heighten mortality (Li et al, 2009;You et al, 2013). This may be a simple passive response of the gazelles which would therefore endanger the survival of Przewalski's gazelle (You et al, 2013).…”

“…Przewalski's gazelles have changed their diurnal pattern of activities in response to human activities, shortening the average distance traveled each day, reducing the extent of habitat used, and reducing the duration of a given feeding bout, all of which may directly and/or indirectly heighten mortality (Li et al, 2009;You et al, 2013). This may be a simple passive response of the gazelles which would therefore endanger the survival of Przewalski's gazelle (You et al, 2013). However, on the other hand, this may suggest that the gazelles are able to adapt their behavior under pressure from human influences.…”

“…This gazelle species still faces many threats. Fencing of grasslands induces devastating effects on gazelle populations; for example, by impairing the ability of individuals to escape predators, fencing may cause direct mortality (You et al, 2013). Increasing numbers of domestic livestock within the gazelle's range has intensified food competition, especially in the winter (Li et al, 2008(Li et al, , 2012.…”