Source: UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA submitted to
FIELD SURVEY OF MARCO POLO SHEEP (OVIS AMMON) AND THEIR HABITATS IN THE PAMIR MOUNTAINS OF AFGHANISTAN
Sponsoring Institution
Other Cooperating Institutions
Project Status
NEW
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0218604
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
MONZ-69018
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Oct 1, 2007
Project End Date
Dec 31, 2008
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Harris, R.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA
COLLEGE OF FORESTRY AND CONSERVATION
MISSOULA,MT 59812
Performing Department
College of Forestry and Conservation
Non Technical Summary
Preliminary information suggests that the argali (Ovis ammon polii) population in the Big Pamir region of Afghanistan is self-sustaining, at least in the near term, but that it is restricted to a very small region. In the long-term, this raises conservation concerns. Hypotheses that explain this limited distribution include hunting, grassland degradation, displacement by livestock, and natural (e.g., bio-climatic) factors. At present, however, there are few reliable to data support various hypotheses over others. This project will use presence and relative abundance data obtained primarily from fecal samples (supplemented by direct observations during both summer and winter seasons) as the dependent variable in a suite of models that explore the level of support enjoyed by the various hypotheses. Independent variables will include information on vegetation condition and livestock distribution (obtained by direct field work and use of GPS data-loggers), hunting pressure (obtained from interviews), and various geographic factors (obtained via remote sensing and interpreted through GIS analyses). Patch occupancy and other non-linear models will be employed as part of this effort. As part of this work, population estimates in the BPWR will be generated, both through direct observation, and through capture-recapture methods based on individual genetic markers from fecal samples.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
90%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
13608601070100%
Knowledge Area
136 - Conservation of Biological Diversity;

Subject Of Investigation
0860 - Endangered species;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology;
Goals / Objectives
Objectives of the November-December 2007 field work will be to i) document habitat use by argali during early winter months, using both direct observations and collection of fecal pellets; ii) obtain an early season estimate of population size (based on sightings only), for comparison with DNA mark-recapture-based estimates to be done later; iii) to obtain an estimate of lamb survival through early winter; iv) to document range use and levels of disturbance by domestic livestock on winter range; v) document range condition in areas used by domestic livestock and argali on winter range as well as nearby areas lacking argali and/or domestic livestock; and vi) to collect additional fecal pellets for population size (as well as contributing data for sub-component 1, above). Objectives of the summer 2008 field work will be to: i) document habitat use by argali during early late spring and summer months, using both direct observations and collection of fecal pellets; ii) obtain a 2nd summer season estimate of population size (based on sightings only), for comparison with DNA mark-recapture-based estimates to be done later; iii) obtain a 2nd estimate of early lamb production (to compare with that obtained during summer 2007; iv) to document range use and levels of disturbance by domestic livestock on summer range; v) document range condition in areas used by domestic livestock and argali on winter range as well as nearby areas lacking argali and/or domestic livestock; and vi) to collect additional fecal pellets for population size (as well as contributing data for sub-component 1, above).
Project Methods
Field surveys will be performed, during which time argali locations will be documented, as well as those of livestock, herders, and other factors relevant to understanding their habitat needs and spatial distribution. Local staff will also complement these surveys during times when we cannot be in the field. Fecal pellets from argali will be collected and DNA extracted for individual identification. Mark-recapture methods will be used to estimate population size. Dietary habits of both argali and livestock will be quantified using micro-histological fragment analysis from fecal pellets.