Landscape genetics identified conservation priority areas for blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) in the Indian Trans-Himalayan Region

Dolker, Stanzin; Jabin, Gul; Singh, Sujeet Kumar; Joshi, Bheem Dutt; Singh, Vinaya Kumar; Dalui, Supriyo; Chandra, Kailash; Sharma, Lalit Kumar; Thakur, Mukesh

doi:10.1038/s41598-023-44823-y

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…At the same time, the dense forests on both sides of the river provide herbivores with abundant food, habitat and other survival resources, and are also a refuge for ungulates from predation 28,29 . The steep cliffs on both sides are natural barriers for blue sheep to avoid natural enemies 30,31 . All categories of suitable habitat accounted for only about 10% of the study area, indicating that the area of high-quality habitat (high and medium suitability) for horse musk deer and blue sheep is small, although they account for a larger proportion of all suitability categories (Musk musk deer: 36.7%; Musk musk deer: 32.2%).…”

Section: Forecast Of Potential Protected Areas For Ungulatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maxent modeling for predicting suitable habitats for wild ungulates: a case study of typical canyons in the Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve of China

Niu,

Li,

Hao

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Purpose In the fragmented and isolated Zhongtie Military Protection Area of the Sanjiangyuan National Park, endangered ungulate species—including horse musk deer, blue sheep, and red deer—face significant risks due to habitat degradation and loss, exacerbated by climate change and human activities. This study aims to understand the habitat preferences of ungulates and predict their spatial distributions within the park, contributing to conservation efforts amid climatic shifts. Due to the scarcity of detailed, scientific data on ungulate distributions, populations, and habitats, this study seeks to fill these critical knowledge gaps. Materials and Methods We deployed 55 infrared cameras along the main stream of the Yellow River and in typical canyons on both sides of the China Railway Military Protection Zone within the Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve. The cameras recorded 2,948 occurrences of ungulates from April to September 2023. We utilized the MaxEnt model to analyze habitat distribution of horse musk deer and blue sheep, incorporating nine environmental variables. Results The model's predictive accuracy, as indicated by the area under the curve (AUC) for Alpine musk deer (0.980) and Blue sheep (0.976), demonstrates its effectiveness. Our analysis identifies climate as the primary influence on habitat distribution, with key factors being annual mean temperature, daily temperature range, altitude, and annual precipitation-contributing to 39.3%, 25.4%, 18.7%, 10.1% for Alpine musk deer, and 40.5%, 23.5%, 14.1%, 11.8% for Blue sheep, respectively. Habitat suitability analysis reveals that 9.61% and 10.84% of the reserve's terrain are viable for Alpine musk deer and Blue sheep, respectively, based on established model thresholds. Conclusions The findings of this study are crucial for the protection of existing wildlife and the identification of potential conservation zones for ungulates. By delineating areas of high habitat suitability, this research supports targeted conservation planning and management efforts within the Sanjiangyuan Reserve, thereby aiding in the sustainable preservation of these endangered species.

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Section: Forecast Of Potential Protected Areas For Ungulatesmentioning

confidence: 99%