DOCSLIB.ORG

Conservation and the Complexity of Temperate Grasslands: a View from Ugtam Uul Nature Reserve, Mongolia

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Conservation and the Complexity of Temperate Grasslands: a View from Ugtam Uul Nature Reserve, Mongolia Title: Conservation and the complexity of temperate grasslands: A view from Ugtam Uul Nature Reserve, Mongolia. Author: Dr. William Wilson, Department of Geography, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario. P7B 5E1 Abstract: Temperate grasslands are amongst the most threatened landscapes in the world today. In part, this situation has been created, and is sustained, due to a perception that these grasslands are ecologically simple, i.e., that a true grassland is a monotonous landscape of climax vegetation and few fauna. Further, we assume that we understand how these landscapes function. This article presents data on a temperate grassland protected area in Mongolia, Ugtam Uul Nature Reserve, in order to demonstrate first, that temperate grasslands are actually quite complex and second, that much more research needs to be done on the few remaining extant temperate grasslands if we are to hope for successful grassland conservation. It is argued that ecologically and socially intact temperate grasslands are vibrant landscapes that contain springs, stream, lakes, wetlands, forest patches, drylands, and cliffs, as well as innumerable different grassland landscape communities. Data is produced to show how Ugtam Uul Nature Reserve, located on the Daurian Steppe of eastern Mongolia, is an example of such a complex grassland. The article concludes with some suggestions for projects to further the conservation of temperate grasslands in Asia and North and South America. Index Terms: temperate grasslands, Mongolia, wolves, Inner Asia, nomads 1 Introduction: The link between perceptions of particular landscapes and the actual state of conservation of those landscapes has been well established in the literature (e.g., Adams and McShane 1992 and Hummel (ed.) 1989, 1995). The implications of a negative perception towards a landscape are evident in the state of conservation of temperate grasslands around the world. The lack of articles and books on temperate grasslands would indicate that conservationists often see these landscapes as monotonous and even boring, especially when compared to perceptually dynamic mountains or tropical rainforests. Thankfully, what little work that has been done on temperate grasslands is often excellent, e.g. Olsen (ed.) (1990), Samson and Knopf (eds.) (1997), Licht (1997). Nevertheless, one recent study (Henwood (ed) 1998) found that these grasslands are the most threatened major terrestrial landscape. In fact, no pre-Industrial temperate grassland landscape continues to exist in the Americas, and only a very few remain in Eurasia. The closest simulacrum in North America is Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, where the visitor can see some native grassland flora and fauna, although no large predators. In the days of scarce conservation funding, how can battered prairie compete for funds with luxurious Pacific rainforest; what responsible supervisor would condemn the career of a graduate student by suggesting the s/he study the possibilities for the restoration of temperate grasslands when they can study charismatic caribou or grizzly bears? The purpose of this article is to advocate grassland conservation through the construction of an understanding that these landscapes are as dynamic and ecologically 2 important as other landscapes. It is intended that this alternative image will give more impetus to new scientific studies of temperate grasslands and to new conservation and restoration efforts. The article is constructed around an examination of one particular grassland protected area, Ugtam Uul Nature Reserve, found on one of the few remaining ecologically extant temperate grasslands, the Daurian Steppe of Mongolia. The article begins with an introduction to the study area and a brief discussion of the methods used to collect the data presented in the following pages. A discussion of what these data reveal about the dynamic nature of the Ugtam grasslands is then presented. The article concludes with some thoughts on priorities for grassland conservation. Ugtam Uul Nature Reserve The 462 km2 Ugtam Uul Nature Reserve was created in 1993 to protect the local monastery (established, 1830’s: destroyed, 1934: re-established, 1991), its sacred mountain (or uul), and over 110 Bronze Age graves. The Reserve is located at approximately 49°19'33N - 113°45'11E, in the Daurian Steppe of eastern Mongolia and lies on the Uldz River, a small underfit steppe river (Map 1). The Reserve lies approximately 50 km from the Khentii Mountains to the west, and roughly 70 km from the Yablonovyy Mountains to the north. These separation zones are grass-covered hills with moderate relief (100 -200m) and occasional outcrops of sedimentary rock. To the south and east, the hills give way to flat steppe. The average yearly high in northeastern Mongolia is 7.6 degrees C, the average yearly low –5.3 C, and the average yearly temperature 0.6 C (Government of Mongolia 1990). Summer temperatures reach the mid-40’s C while winter temperatures fall to the 3 –40’s C. Average yearly precipitation is 247.7 mm, with large inter- and intra-year variability (Humphrey and Sneath 1999). Most moisture falls in the late summer as severe thunderstorms. Winters are dry with strong winds. Spring is the driest season of the year. The Ugtam massif, with its numerous summits, appears to be a pluton of indeterminate size, which has penetrated through the layers of sedimentary Cretaceous rock. The maximum elevation of the massif is 1240m. The minimum elevation in the Reserve is 800m. The pluton creates one, or several, perched water tables that feed the seven perennial springs that form the streams that flow off the mountain in sheltered valleys. Neither the springs nor the streams freeze during the winter. The soils around Ugtam are predominantly chestnuts and light chernozems resting on massive, unsorted deposits of sand of unknown thickness. Soils are much better developed in Ugtam stream valleys due to increased moisture, more organic material from trees, and much greater bioturbation. Buried soil horizons in these valleys suggest frequent seismic activity. Discontinuous permafrost is found throughout the Reserve, particularly in north-facing valley bottoms. Flora and Fauna One hundred and forty-four plant species have been identified, thus far, in the Reserve. A remaining 19 plants have been identified to the family level. The Reserve contains at least 43 families of plants. However, more species remain to be found in the Reserve, as the birch (Betula platyphylla) forest across the summit has been poorly sampled. 4 Thirty-one species of mammals were recorded at or around Ugtam Uul in 1999 - 2000, eighteen of which are considered threatened by the IUCN, CITES, and/or the Government of Mongolia (Ministry of Nature and the Environment, Government of Mongolia 1997; Baillie and Groombridge (compilers and editors) 1996; Hilton-Taylor (Compiler) 2000). Table One: Threatened Mammal and Bird Species of Ugtam Uul Nature Reserve Species English Common Name Rhinolophus ferrumequinum Schreber, 1774 Greater Horseshoe bat Sciurus vulgaris Linnaeus 1758 Red squirrel Marmota bobak sibirica Radde 1862 Siberian marmot Ptermys volans Linnaeus 1758 Russian flying squirrel Myopus schisticolor Lilljeborg 1844 Wood lemming Lagurus luteus Eversmann 1840 Yellow steppe lemming Micromys minutus Pallas 1771 Harvest mouse Dryomys nitedula Pallas 1779 Forest dormouse Sicista betulina Pallas, 1779 Northern birch mouse Sicista subtilis Pallas 1773 Southern birch mouse Canis lupus Linnaeus 1758 Wolf Vulpes corsac Linnaeus 1768 Corsac fox Ursus arctos Linnaeus 1758 Brown bear Mustela eversmanni Lesson 1827 Steppe polecat 5 Gulo gulo Linnaeus 1758 Wolverine Otocolobus manul Pallas 1776 (Felis manul) Pallas's cat Lynx lynx Linnaeus 1758 (Felis lynx) Eurasian Lynx Procapra gutturosa Pallas 1777 Dzeren, Mongolian gazelle Ciconia nigra Linnaeus 1758 Black Stork Cygnus cygnus Linnaeus 1758 Whooper Swan Anser cygnoides Linnaeus 1758 Swan Goose Haliaeetus albicilla Linnaeus 1758 White-tailed Eagle Circus aeruginosus Linnaeus 1758 Marsh Harrier Circus cyaneus Linnaeus 1766 Hen Harrier Circus macrourus Gmelin 1770 Pallid Harrier Circus melanoleucos Pennant 1769 Pied Harrier Aquila clanga Pallas 1811 Spotted Eagle Aquila nipalensis Hodgson 1833 Steppe Eagle Aquila heliaca Savigny 1809 Imperial Eagle Aquila chrysaetos Linnaeus 1758 Golden Eagle Falco naumanni Fleischer 1818 Lesser Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Linnaeus 1758 Common Kestrel Falco subbuteo Linnaeus 1758 Eurasian Hobby Falco cherrug Gray 1834 Saker Falcon Falco peregrinus Tunstall 1771 Peregrine Falcon Grus grus Linnaeus 1758 Common Crane 6 Grus monacha Temminck 1835 Hooded Crane Grus vipio Pallas 1811 White-napped Crane Anthropoides virgo Linnaeus 1758 Demoiselle Crane Otis tarda Linnaeus 1758 Great Bustard One hundred and thirty-one species of birds were identified at Ugtam Uul Nature Reserve in 1999. A UNDP fieldtrip to Ugtam in the early Fall of 2000 yielded a further 15 species of birds. This addition of slightly more than 10% of the original 131 species over only a few days of observation at new locations in the Reserve suggests that the avifauna of Ugtam Uul has not yet been fully censused (Hunter 1996; Shafer 1990). Even so, existing data indicate that Ugtam contains 32% of all birds found in Mongolia. Further, 22 (15%) of these bird species are threatened (Ministry of Nature and the Environment, Government of Mongolia 1997; Baillie and Groombridge (compilers and editors) 1996; Hilton-Taylor (Compiler) 2000). A full
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Small-Mammal Assemblages Inhabiting Sphagnum Peat Bogs in Various Regions of Poland
    BIOLOGICAL LETT. 2012, 49(2): 115–133 Available online at: http:/www.versita.com/science/lifesciences/bl/ DOI: 10.2478/v10120-012-0013-4 Small-mammal assemblages inhabiting Sphagnum peat bogs in various regions of Poland MATEUSZ CIECHANOWSKI1, JAN CICHOCKI2, AGNIESZKA WAŻNA2 and BARBARA PIŁACIŃSKA3 1 Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdańsk, al. Legionów 9, 80‑441 Gdańsk, Poland 2 Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, ul. prof. Z. Szafrana 1, 65‑516 Zielona Góra, Poland 3 Department of Systematic Zoology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61‑614 Poznań, Poland Corresponding author: Mateusz Ciechanowski, [email protected] (Received on 19 May 2011; Accepted on 1 March 2012) Abstract: We studied species composition of assemblages of small mammals (rodents and shrews) inhab­ iting Polish 25 ombrotrophic mires and quaking bogs in several regions in order to reveal characteristic features of their quantitative structure and compare them between regions, internal zones of the bog habitats, and different levels of anthropogenic degradation. We reviewed also all published results of small-mammal trapping in such habitats. Mammals were captured in pitfalls, snap traps and live traps on 12 bogs of the Pomerania region, 4 bogs of the Orawa-Nowy Targ Basin (Kotlina Orawsko-Nowotarska), 3 bogs in the Świętokrzyskie Mts, and 6 bogs in Wielkopolska and the Lubusz Land. Additionally, we included materials collected from Barber traps (pitfalls) used during studies of epigeic invertebrates on 4 bogs. In total, 598 individuals of 12 species were collected. The number of pitfall captures per 100 trap- nights was very low (7.0–7.8), suggesting low population density.
    [Show full text]
  • Controlled Animals
    Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Fish and Wildlife Policy Division Controlled Animals Wildlife Regulation, Schedule 5, Part 1-4: Controlled Animals Subject to the Wildlife Act, a person must not be in possession of a wildlife or controlled animal unless authorized by a permit to do so, the animal was lawfully acquired, was lawfully exported from a jurisdiction outside of Alberta and was lawfully imported into Alberta. NOTES: 1 Animals listed in this Schedule, as a general rule, are described in the left hand column by reference to common or descriptive names and in the right hand column by reference to scientific names. But, in the event of any conflict as to the kind of animals that are listed, a scientific name in the right hand column prevails over the corresponding common or descriptive name in the left hand column. 2 Also included in this Schedule is any animal that is the hybrid offspring resulting from the crossing, whether before or after the commencement of this Schedule, of 2 animals at least one of which is or was an animal of a kind that is a controlled animal by virtue of this Schedule. 3 This Schedule excludes all wildlife animals, and therefore if a wildlife animal would, but for this Note, be included in this Schedule, it is hereby excluded from being a controlled animal. Part 1 Mammals (Class Mammalia) 1. AMERICAN OPOSSUMS (Family Didelphidae) Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana 2. SHREWS (Family Soricidae) Long-tailed Shrews Genus Sorex Arboreal Brown-toothed Shrew Episoriculus macrurus North American Least Shrew Cryptotis parva Old World Water Shrews Genus Neomys Ussuri White-toothed Shrew Crocidura lasiura Greater White-toothed Shrew Crocidura russula Siberian Shrew Crocidura sibirica Piebald Shrew Diplomesodon pulchellum 3.
    [Show full text]
  • PCR to Study Mammalian Phylogeny A
    Russian Journal of Genetics, Vol. 38, No. 6, 2002, pp. 714–724. Translated from Genetika, Vol. 38, No. 6, 2002, pp. 853–864. Original Russian Text Copyright © 2002 by Bannikova, Matveev, Kramerov. Using Inter-SINE–PCR to Study Mammalian Phylogeny A. A. Bannikova1, V. A. Matveev1, and D. A. Kramerov2 1 Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119899 Russia; e-mail: [email protected] 2 Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991 Russia Received October 31, 2001 Abstract—Results of the use of the fingerprinting method related to short interspersed elements (SINEs), inter- SINE–PCR, in the study of phylogenetic and taxonomic relationship in mammals from orders Chiroptera (fam- ily Vespertilionidae) and Lipotyphla (family Erinaceidae) are reported. The inter-SINE–PCR method is based on the amplification of fragments situated between copies of SINEs, which are short retroposons spaced 100 to 1000 bp apart. Specifically selected primers were used, which are complementary to consensus sequences of two short retroposons: the mammalian interspersed repeat (MIR), which is typical of all mammals and some other vertebrates, was used in the cases of bats and Erinaceidae, and the ERI-1 element recently isolated from the genome of the Daurian hedgehog was used in the case of Erinaceidae. The results support the current view on phylogenetic relationship between hedgehogs belonging to genera Erinaceus, Hemiechinus, and Paraechi- nus (but not the genus Atelerix). In bats, the phylogenetic reconstruction revealed a statistically valid topology only at lower taxonomic levels, whereas the topology for the genus and supragenus ranks was unresolved and fan-shaped.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Diseases in Mass Mortality of Wood Lemmings (Myopus Schisticolor)
    The role of diseases in mass mortality of wood lemmings (Myopus schisticolor) Sjukdomars roll i massutdöende av skogslämmel (Myopus schisticolor) Henrik Johansen Master’s thesis • 30 credits Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies Forest Science programme Examensarbete/Master’s thesis, 2021:7 Umeå, Sweden 2021 The role of disease in mass mortality of wood lemming (Myopus schisticolor) Sjukdomars roll I massutdöende av skogslämmel (Myopus schisticolor) Henrik Johansen Supervisor: Frauke Ecke, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Department of wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies Assistant supervisor: Magnus Magnusson, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Department of wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies Examiner: Joris Cromsigt, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Department of wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies Credits: 30 credits Level: Second cycle, A2E Course title: Master’s thesis in Forest Science, A2E - Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies Course code: EX0840 Programme/education: Forest Science programme Course coordinating dept: Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies Place of publication: Umeå, Sweden Year of publication: 2021 Cover picture: Thomas Secher Jensen Title of series: Examensarbete/Master’s thesis Part number: 2021:7 Keywords: Wood lemming, Myopus schisticolor, Disease, Virus, Pathogens, Mass mortality, Orthohantavirus, Pan-orthohantavirus, Somatic index, Spleen index Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Faculty of Forest Science Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies Publishing and archiving Approved students’ theses at SLU are published electronically. As a student, you have the copyright to your own work and need to approve the electronic publishing. If you check the box for YES, the full text (pdf file) and metadata will be visible and searchable online.
    [Show full text]
  • Comparative Morphology of Two Sympatric Species of Hedgehog in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia Richard P
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei Institut für Biologie der Martin-Luther-Universität / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Halle-Wittenberg Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298 2010 Comparative Morphology of Two Sympatric Species of Hedgehog in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia Richard P. Reading Denver Zoological Foundation, [email protected] David Kenny Denver Zoological Foundation Sodnomphil Batdorj Denver Zoological Foundation James Murdoch University of Vermont, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biolmongol Part of the Asian Studies Commons, Biodiversity Commons, Environmental Sciences Commons, Nature and Society Relations Commons, Other Animal Sciences Commons, and the Zoology Commons Reading, Richard P.; Kenny, David; Batdorj, Sodnomphil; and Murdoch, James, "Comparative Morphology of Two Sympatric Species of Hedgehog in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia" (2010). Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298. 64. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biolmongol/64 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Institut für Biologie der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298 by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Copyright 2010, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle Wittenberg, Halle (Saale). Used by permission. Erforsch. biol. Ress. Mongolei (Halle/Saale) 2010 (11): 323-328 Comparative Morphology of Two Sympatric Species of Hedgehog in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia R. P. Reading, D. Kenny, S. Batdorj & J.
    [Show full text]
  • Checklist of Rodents and Insectivores of the Mordovia, Russia
    ZooKeys 1004: 129–139 (2020) A peer-reviewed open-access journal doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1004.57359 RESEARCH ARTICLE https://zookeys.pensoft.net Launched to accelerate biodiversity research Checklist of rodents and insectivores of the Mordovia, Russia Alexey V. Andreychev1, Vyacheslav A. Kuznetsov1 1 Department of Zoology, National Research Mordovia State University, Bolshevistskaya Street, 68. 430005, Saransk, Russia Corresponding author: Alexey V. Andreychev ([email protected]) Academic editor: R. López-Antoñanzas | Received 7 August 2020 | Accepted 18 November 2020 | Published 16 December 2020 http://zoobank.org/C127F895-B27D-482E-AD2E-D8E4BDB9F332 Citation: Andreychev AV, Kuznetsov VA (2020) Checklist of rodents and insectivores of the Mordovia, Russia. ZooKeys 1004: 129–139. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1004.57359 Abstract A list of 40 species is presented of the rodents and insectivores collected during a 15-year period from the Republic of Mordovia. The dataset contains more than 24,000 records of rodent and insectivore species from 23 districts, including Saransk. A major part of the data set was obtained during expedition research and at the biological station. The work is based on the materials of our surveys of rodents and insectivo- rous mammals conducted in Mordovia using both trap lines and pitfall arrays using traditional methods. Keywords Insectivores, Mordovia, rodents, spatial distribution Introduction There is a need to review the species composition of rodents and insectivores in all regions of Russia, and the work by Tovpinets et al. (2020) on the Crimean Peninsula serves as an example of such research. Studies of rodent and insectivore diversity and distribution have a long history, but there are no lists for many regions of Russia of Copyright A.V.
    [Show full text]
  • Genus/Species Skull Ht Lt Wt Stage Range Abalosia U.Pliocene S America Abelmoschomys U.Miocene E USA A
    Genus/Species Skull Ht Lt Wt Stage Range Abalosia U.Pliocene S America Abelmoschomys U.Miocene E USA A. simpsoni U.Miocene Florida(US) Abra see Ochotona Abrana see Ochotona Abrocoma U.Miocene-Recent Peru A. oblativa 60 cm? U.Holocene Peru Abromys see Perognathus Abrosomys L.Eocene Asia Abrothrix U.Pleistocene-Recent Argentina A. illuteus living Mouse Lujanian-Recent Tucuman(ARG) Abudhabia U.Miocene Asia Acanthion see Hystrix A. brachyura see Hystrix brachyura Acanthomys see Acomys or Tokudaia or Rattus Acarechimys L-M.Miocene Argentina A. minutissimus Miocene Argentina Acaremys U.Oligocene-L.Miocene Argentina A. cf. Murinus Colhuehuapian Chubut(ARG) A. karaikensis Miocene? Argentina A. messor Miocene? Argentina A. minutissimus see Acarechimys minutissimus Argentina A. minutus Miocene? Argentina A. murinus Miocene? Argentina A. sp. L.Miocene Argentina A. tricarinatus Miocene? Argentina Acodon see Akodon A. angustidens see Akodon angustidens Pleistocene Brazil A. clivigenis see Akodon clivigenis Pleistocene Brazil A. internus see Akodon internus Pleistocene Argentina Acomys L.Pliocene-Recent Africa,Europe,W Asia,Crete A. cahirinus living Spiny Mouse U.Pleistocene-Recent Israel A. gaudryi U.Miocene? Greece Aconaemys see Pithanotomys A. fuscus Pliocene-Recent Argentina A. f. fossilis see Aconaemys fuscus Pliocene Argentina Acondemys see Pithanotomys Acritoparamys U.Paleocene-M.Eocene W USA,Asia A. atavus see Paramys atavus A. atwateri Wasatchian W USA A. cf. Francesi Clarkforkian Wyoming(US) A. francesi(francesci) Wasatchian-Bridgerian Wyoming(US) A. wyomingensis Bridgerian Wyoming(US) Acrorhizomys see Clethrionomys Actenomys L.Pliocene-L.Pleistocene Argentina A. maximus Pliocene Argentina Adelomyarion U.Oligocene France A. vireti U.Oligocene France Adelomys U.Eocene France A.
    [Show full text]
  • Mongolia: the Gobi Desert, Steppe & Taiga 2019
    Field Guides Tour Report Mongolia: The Gobi Desert, Steppe & Taiga 2019 Jun 8, 2019 to Jun 26, 2019 Phil Gregory & Sundev Gombobataar For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE. These three Eurasian Eagle-Owl chicks and their mother were found on a cliff-side at Bogd Mountain, quite by accident! Guide Phil Gregory happened to set up the scope pointed right at the female owl, then found that she had these three large offspring in a nest nearby. This was just one of the exciting sightings we had on the tour. This was the third Field Guides tour to Mongolia, covering many of the key sites and habitats in central, southern and north-eastern Mongolia, including steppe, desert and boreal forest, and we succeeded very nicely. It was again a late, dry spring here, and some species like waders, wagtails and warblers were scarce or absent, but breeding was certainly in full swing. Staying primarily in ger camps was fun, but you have to get used to the low doorways and starlit nocturnal treks to the bathroom. Most came in early to get recovered and oriented, and a couple of folks did a cultural tour, which included the National Museum and the Dinosaur Museum, well worth doing and recommended. On day one we went to Songino and some riparian habitat along the Tuul River, and picked up the first Mongolian birds, including Asian Azure-winged Magpie, White-cheeked Starling, a nice assortment of wildfowl and Demoiselle Crane. Long-tailed Rosefinch showed nicely, as did Azure Tit and White-crowned Penduline Tit, plus White-backed Woodpecker.
    [Show full text]
  • SILENT STEPPE II: Mongolia’S Wildlife Trade Crisis, Ten Years Later
    MONGOLIA SILENT STEPPE II: Mongolia’s Wildlife Trade Crisis, Ten Years Later MONGOLIA IRIM Independent Research Institute MONGOLIA SILENT STEPPE II: Mongolia’s Wildlife Trade Crisis, Ten Years Later MONGOLIA IRIM Independent Research Institute MONGOLIA SILENT STEPPE II: Mongolia’s Wildlife Trade Crisis, Ten Years Later September 2019 This study was prepared by The Zoological This report is a product of the staff of the Society of London (ZSL), Legal Atlas, and the Zoological Society of London, Legal Atlas, and Independent Research Institute of Mongolia IRIM, as well as the reviewers that provided (IRIM) with funding from the Illegal Wildlife valuable input to the final draft. In this regard, Trade Challenge Fund of Great Britain’s special thanks are due to Mr. Gombobaatar Department for Environment, Food and from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The UK government is Resources, who provided a review of the committed to tackling illegal wildlife trade, a critical chapters. The report’s findings do not criminal industry worth more than £6 billion necessarily reflect the views of the Directors of each year threatening both wildlife and people. these entities or the government of Mongolia. The Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) Challenge No entity involved in this study guarantees the Fund provides financial support to practical accuracy of the data included. Likewise, the projects around the world which: boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work • develop sustainable livelihoods for do not imply any judgment on the part of communities affected by illegal wildlife any entity named herein concerning the legal trade status of any territory or the endorsement or • strengthen law enforcement and the role acceptance of such boundaries.
    [Show full text]
  • Molecular Systematics and Holarctic Phylogeography of Cestodes of the Genus Anoplocephaloides Baer, 1923 S
    Zoologica Scripta Molecular systematics and Holarctic phylogeography of cestodes of the genus Anoplocephaloides Baer, 1923 s. s. (Cyclophyllidea, Anoplocephalidae) in lemmings (Lemmus, Synaptomys) VOITTO HAUKISALMI,LOTTA M. HARDMAN,VADIM B. FEDOROV,ERIC P. HOBERG & HEIKKI HENTTONEN Submitted: 27 March 2015 Haukisalmi, V., Hardman, L.M., Fedorov, V.B., Hoberg, E.P., Henttonen, H. (2016). Accepted: 2 July 2015 Molecular systematics and Holarctic phylogeography of cestodes of the genus Anoplo- doi:10.1111/zsc.12136 cephaloides Baer, 1923 s. s. (Cyclophyllidea, Anoplocephalidae) in lemmings (Lemmus, Synap- tomys). —Zoologica Scripta, 45,88–102. The present molecular systematic and phylogeographic analysis is based on sequences of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) (mtDNA) and 28S ribosomal DNA and includes 59 isolates of cestodes of the genus Anoplocephaloides Baer, 1923 s. s. (Cyclophyllidea, Anoplo- cephalidae) from arvicoline rodents (lemmings and voles) in the Holarctic region. The emphasis is on Anoplocephaloides lemmi (Rausch 1952) parasitizing Lemmus trimucronatus and Lemmus sibiricus in the northern parts of North America and Arctic coast of Siberia, and Anoplocephaloides kontrimavichusi (Rausch 1976) parasitizing Synaptomys borealis in Alaska and British Columbia. The cox1 data, 28S data and their concatenated data all suggest that A. lemmi and A. kontrimavichusi are both non-monophyletic, each consisting of two separate, well-defined clades, that is independent species. As an example, the sister group of the clade 1ofA. lemmi, evidently representing the ‘type clade’ of this species, is the clade 1 of A. kontrimavichusi. For A. kontrimavichusi, it is not known which one is the type clade. There is also fairly strong evidence for the non-monophyly of Anoplocephaloides dentata (Galli-Valerio, 1905)-like species, although an earlier phylogeny suggested that this multi- species assemblage may be monophyletic.
    [Show full text]
  • ACE Appendix
    CBP and Trade Automated Interface Requirements Appendix: PGA August 13, 2021 Pub # 0875-0419 Contents Table of Changes .................................................................................................................................................... 4 PG01 – Agency Program Codes ........................................................................................................................... 18 PG01 – Government Agency Processing Codes ................................................................................................... 22 PG01 – Electronic Image Submitted Codes .......................................................................................................... 26 PG01 – Globally Unique Product Identification Code Qualifiers ........................................................................ 26 PG01 – Correction Indicators* ............................................................................................................................. 26 PG02 – Product Code Qualifiers ........................................................................................................................... 28 PG04 – Units of Measure ...................................................................................................................................... 30 PG05 – Scientific Species Code ........................................................................................................................... 31 PG05 – FWS Wildlife Description Codes ...........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • A Review of the Results Obtained During the Field Study Group Summer Camps of the Dutch Mammal Society, 1986-2014
    A review of the results obtained during the Field Study Group summer camps of the Dutch Mammal Society, 1986-2014 Jan Piet Bekker1, Kees Mostert2, Jan P.C. Boshamer3 & Eric Thomassen4 1Zwanenlaan 10, NL-4351 RX Veere, the Netherlands, e-mail: [email protected] 2Palamedesstraat 74, NL-2612 XS Delft, the Netherlands 3Vogelzand 4250, NL-1788 MP Den Helder, the Netherlands 4Middelstegracht 28a, NL-2312 TX Leiden, the Netherlands Abstract: The 28 summer camps of the Field Study Group of the Dutch Mammal Society organised between 1986 and 2014 are reviewed here. Over time the Field Study Group gradually spread out its activities throughout Europe, including former Eastern Bloc countries. Camp locations were found through contacts in host countries, who also assist in the preparation of camp activities. Out of a total of 160 participants from the Netherlands and Belgium, 80 attended a summer camp once and 80 joined more than once; 116 participants from local origin were active dur- ing these camps. For the 128 mammal species found, the observation techniques used are described. Overall, 7,662 small mammals were caught with live-traps and 990 bats were caught in mist nets. Among the trapped mammals, 421 casualties were counted, predominantly common and pygmy shrews in northern European countries. In pellets, pre- dominantly from barn owls, 21,620 small mammals were found. With detectors, 3,908 bats could be identified. Caves and (old) buildings were explored for bats, and the results of these surveys made up a large part of the total number of bats found. Sightings (> 1,740) and tracks & signs (> 1,194) revealed most of all the presence of carnivora and even- toed ungulates (Artiodactyla).
    [Show full text]