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Journal of Zoological Research Volume 3, Issue 3, 2019, PP 1-9 ISSN 2637-5575

Issues and Challenges in the Conservation of the Goitered (Gazella subgutturosa; Güldenstädt, 1780)

Serge SVIZZERO* University of La Réunion, France *Corresponding Author: Serge SVIZZERO, University of La Réunion, France, Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT Despite it is listed as a vulnerable species since 2006, the population of the is continuously declining. Illegal hunting and habitat destruction are considered as the main causes of this decline, even though this species is very adaptable to various ecosystems - especially arid environments - and was highly resilient to intense hunting pressures until the late nineteen century. Important efforts for conservation have been realized by the implementation of protected areas and have even led to re- introduction. However, the design of these protected areas could be improved. Several studies about habitat selection and home range size of re-introduced goitered have shown that protected areas should be re-arranged or shifted to areas more intensively used by gazelles. Moreover, habitat fragmentation , which can be involuntary reinforced by the design of protected areas, is a real threat for this migratory species. Indeed, isolation, whatever its origin, leads inevitably to lower genetic diversity. Keywords: Goitered Gazelle, Migratory Species, Habitat Fragmentation, Genetic Diversity, Isolation, Protected Areas, Conservation INTRODUCTION species, the causes of this decline are multiple (Rosen Michel and Röttger, 2014). For the The goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa; goitered gazelle, the two main causes of its Güldenstädt, 1780) is listed as Vulnerable (VU) 2 decline are habitat loss and intentional under criterion A2 since 2006 by the IUCN mortality (Clark et al., 2006). For the latter, (2017). According to Mallon and Kingswwod hunting and poaching are mainly motivated by (2001), the population was estimated in the late the illegal trade of ' products, which 1990s at 120,000 to 140,000; the most recent consist primarily of meat, and to a lesser extent, assessment realized in 2016 (IUCN, 2017) of skins and horns. estimated from 42,000 to 49,000 the number of mature individuals. This continuing decline is The negative impact of habitat loss and hunting observed in all countries where the goitered are particularly impressive if one considers the gazelle persists (Karlstetter and Mallon, 2014: adaptability and the resilience which 27). Even in , where the characterize the goitered gazelle. On the one supports the largest population of goitered hand, it is physiologically adapted to a broad gazelles, the population is now less than 30,000 range of ecosystems and climates. Indeed, it (Buuveibaatar et al., 2016), while it was survives in arid environments under water estimated at 60,000 in the early 1990s. In some restriction and extreme heat thanks to countries, such as in the Arabian peninsula, the and heterothermy (Ostrowski, population is now extinct while in other Mésochina and Williams, 2006; Fuller et al., countries, such as in (WWF, 2019), 2014; Hetem et al., 2012). Unlike most other it survives only in reserves. To some extent this gazelle species, it is also able to survive under situation is not surprising since it is claimed that continental climate and to altitude close to 3000 large (>20 kg) have been eliminated m, even though it prefers plains and foothills from more than 80 per cent of the terrestrial ecosystems in which they were formerly present of the population of any species or lower taxon of (UNEP/CMS, 2014: 7). As for other migratory1 wild animals, a significant proportion of whose members cyclically and predictably cross one or more national jurisdictional boundaries." 1 A "migratory species" under CMS means "the 2 As a result of the expansion of agriculture, entire population or any geographically separate part husbandry, human settlement, mining, industries.

Journal of Zoological Research V3 ● I3 ● 2019 1 Issues and Challenges in the Conservation of the Goitered Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa; Güldenstädt, 1780)

(Cichon et al., 2011; IUCN, 2017). On the other other hand, as reported by Karlstetter and hand, the goitered gazelle has been intensively Mallon (2014, 27), "The range of the species is hunted for centuries and even millennia, as it is steadily shrinking with surviving populations well attested by travelers' accounts, petroglyphs becoming increasingly fragmented". In other as well as archaeological records (Macdonald, words, in addition to illegal hunting and habitat 2005; Maraqten et al., 2015). The hunting destruction, habitat fragmentation is also pressure was especially high during the Early becoming a major threat for the goitered gazelle. Bronze Age, from the Arabian peninsula to the While the creation of protected areas prevents to , when thousand large traps made of some extent habitat destruction and illegal dried stones (the so-called 'desert kites') were hunting, it does not hamper - and may even used for mass-killing the goitered gazelles along reinforce - habitat fragmentation. Indeed, most their migration paths (Bar-Oz et al., 2011; Zeder gazelles form groups of one to three individuals et al., 2013). Despite this intense human all year round (Kingswood and Blank, 1996; predation, as well as the impact of the other Blank et al., 2012; Blank, Ruckstuhl and Yang, predators (wolves, ...), the population of 2012), and therefore habitat fragmentation is a the goitered gazelle thrived thanks to its real threat for this migratory species. physiological strengths, as it is for instance In fact habitat fragmentation reinforces illustrated recently by its breeding success in isolation, and therefore prevents gene flows reserves, with an annual rate3 of growth of the among the population, and this results in a lower population equal to 35% (Pereladova et al., genetic diversity (Khosravi et al., 2017; Zachos 1998). et al., 2010; Abduriyim, Nabi and Halik,2018). Even though its resilience in the wild was strong Such isolation can be due to either physical in the past, the current population is on a distance, or barriers (including linear continuous decline and therefore conservation infrastructures made by humans, such as roads, efforts have been done. Such efforts are railways, pipelines; UNEP/CMS, 2014) or important for the conservation of the species ecological distance, or any combination thereof. itself but also because the goitered gazelle plays A priori, protected areas do not prevent a central role for the development of seed plants isolation, and the opposite is even likely to and other animals (not only predators) living in occur. Then, the protected areas should also arid and semi-arid environments. Several either be located close to natural migration Central Asian countries (such as e.g. , corridors, or allow exchanges of individuals Azerbaijan, ) have therefore between them in order to prevent loss of genetic multiplied their efforts to create natural reserves, diversity. national parks, sanctuaries, and even captive breeding centers (e.g. in Ogurchinsky Island, in THE CONTINUOUS DECLINE OF THE the - ; WWF Russia, POPULATION 2019). In 1996, the goitered gazelle (Gazella In these protected areas, human occupation, or subgutturosa; Güldenstädt, 1780) was listed as at least the exploitation of resources, is limited. Lower Risk/Near Threatened (LR/NT) and in Although this protection of the habitat is 2003 it was listed as Near Threatened (NT). necessary for the conservation of the species, it Since 2006 it is listed as Vulnerable (VU) under is not sufficient. On the one hand several studies criterion A2acd by the IUCN (2017) because the (e.g. using GPS telemetry) pertaining to habitat decline of its population has exceeded 30% in selection and home range4 size of re-introduced the last 15 years (three generations). In 1900’s, goitered gazelles have shown that protected goitered gazelles were abundant, found in areas were not well tailored, i.e. should be re- almost every desert or semi-desert area arranged or shifted to areas more intensively throughout the and Central Asia. In used by gazelles (Pereladova et al., 1998; the mid-1900's, nearly one million were Nowzari et al., 2007; Farhadinia et al., 2009; estimated to have lived in the Soviet Union Durmus, 2010; Bagherirad et al., 2014). On the alone. According to Mallon and Kingswood (2001), the population was estimated in the late 1990s at 120,000 to 140,000. The most recent 3 This rate is computed for the period 1977 to 1987. assessment realized in 2016 (IUCN, 2017) 4 It is defined as the extent of an area with a defined estimated from 42,000 to 49,000 the number of probability of occurrence of an animal during a mature individuals. This continuing decline is specified time period.

2 Journal of Zoological Research V3 ● I3 ● 2019 Issues and Challenges in the Conservation of the Goitered Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa; Güldenstädt, 1780) observed in all countries where the goitered activities. Although the goitered gazelle is well gazelle persists (Karlstetter and Mallon, 2014: adapted to extreme heat, climate change and 27). Although is listed as vulnerable at the extreme weather can damage the population. global and at the regional level, there are some This is especially the case of severe winters regional disparities; according to Clark et al. when grazing is hampered by either ice crust on (2006: 122), while its global status was the surface of the soil or by the snow blanket 'Vulnerable A2ad', the regional status in when it exceeds 15-20 cm (Karlstetter and Mongolia was 'A3cde'. In some countries, such Mallon, 2014: 28). Because the goitered gazelle as in the Arabian peninsula or in Turkmenistan, is a migratory species, it is also endangered by the population is now extinct or close to specific threats (Rosen Michel and Röttger, extinction. In other Caucasian countries, such as 2014). Indeed, as for other migratory species, in Azerbaijan (WWF, 2019), it survives only in linear infrastructures are an important threat reserves. From a historical perspective, the (UNEP/CMS, 2014). They include fences reality is simply unbelievable: the stock of associated with national boundaries, railways, gazelles in the eastern Caucasus during the first and roads. In Central Asia, the recent economic half of the last century declined from tens of development of previously remote regions has thousands to 200 specimens in the 1960s boosted the building of transportation6 and (WWF, 2019). In Mongolia, where the Gobi services corridors, which therefore are desert supports the largest population of becoming an emerging threat for all migratory goitered gazelles, the population decreased by species. As for other nomadic species, wars, and 30% from 1940 to 1960 (Clark et al., 2006: especially mining, are also a threat. 127). It was estimated at 60,000 in the early Besides habitat loss, the other main threat is 1990s. According to a recent survey realized intentional mortality resulting from hunting and from 2012 to 2015, the population is now less poaching. The latter are mainly motivated by the than 30,0005 (Buuveibaatar et al., 2016). illegal trade of animals' products, which consist In all countries the goitered gazelle is protected primarily of meat, and to a lesser extent, of skins by law; however the enforcement of the law is and horns. According to Cichon et al. (2011), a uneven from one country to another. Hunting is single goitered gazelle yields between 12 and 18 illegal except in few countries (Iran, Mongolia) kg of meat and 0.6 to 0.7 m2 of hide. With the in which trophy hunters can purchase hunting end of the cold war in the late 1990s, several licenses. Despite this protection, the decline of previously republics of the USSR became the population is continuous. To some extent independent countries; while most their this situation is not surprising since it is claimed consumption, including foodstuff, was provided that large mammals (>20 kg) have been regularly and at lower cost by the central eliminated from more than 80 per cent of the authority, these flows were suddenly reduced terrestrial ecosystems in which they were and even stopped. formerly present (UNEP/CMS, 2014: 7). As for These food shortages incentivized the other migratory species, the causes of this development of an illegal market, especially for decline are multiple (Clark et al., 2006; Rosen expensive products such as meat. Such Michel and Röttger, 2014). incentives, with the help of cars, artificial lights Habitat destruction is one of the main cause of and modern firearms, induced a strong increase this decline. It mainly results from the of illegal hunting in all these newly independent expansion of agriculture and animal husbandry countries. Horns are wanted as trophies7 and can (consisting primarily of goats and sheep). The also be used in traditional medicine. Another impact of the latter is particularly strong in arid motive of illegal hunting is to eliminate the environments where water resources and gazelle because they are considered as pest. pastures are rare; therefore, the competition with Herders perform illegal hunting because domestic flocks can lead gazelles below their gazelles compete with their flocks for pastures minimum of subsistence.

Habitat loss is also the result of human 6 E.g. the trans Mongolian railroad corridor, fenced intrusions and disturbance, related to either on both sides. urbanization or the development of industrial 7 While females of this species are mostly, although not always, hornless, males boast long, elegantly curved, lyre-like, black horns that diverge outwards 5 It is estimated at 28,462 (95% CI; 21,326-37,987). and turn back in at the tip.

Journal of Zoological Research V3 ● I3 ● 2019 3 Issues and Challenges in the Conservation of the Goitered Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa; Güldenstädt, 1780) as well as water resources. For instance, Xu et habitat loss is particularly impressive if one al. (2012) have recently provided a study (in considers the adaptation which characterizes the , ) measuring the dietary overlap goitered gazelle. Indeed, it is adapted to a broad between goitered gazelle (Gazella s. range of ecosystems and climates. The goitered yarkandensis) and domestic sheep ( aries). gazelles inhabit various types of desert and These authors have demonstrated that in winter semi-arid terrain occurring in foothills and goitered gazelle and domestic sheep are in valleys. Their habitats range from clayey and strong food competition with an overlap in diet sandy soil to basalt deserts or salt flats. They of 0,77. An additional reason for herders to hunt can occupy areas virtually absent of vegetation gazelles is to reduce the risk of infectious to areas that support grasses, forbs, and shrubs. disease transmission to their herds since the Unlike most other gazelle species, it is able to goitered gazelle is host of numerous species of survive under continental climate and to altitude parasites. Farmers can also hunt gazelles close to 3000 m, even though it prefers plains because they can damage agricultural plants and foothills (Cichon et al., 2011; IUCN, 2017). such as cotton, barley shoots and chickpeas. It is In addition, it survives in arid environments also reported that some people are interested to under water restriction and extreme heat thanks live catch new born gazelles in order to keep to cathemerality and heterothermy (Ostrowski, them as pets, since they are graceful and docile. Mésochina and Williams, 2006; Ostrowski and AND ECOLOGICAL ADAPTATION Williams, 2006; Fuller et al., 2014; Hetem et al., OF THE GOITERED GAZELLE 2012). Indeed, in desert and semi-desert environment characterized by heat, aridity, food The goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa; and water scarcity, gazelles adapt their behavior. Güldenstädt, 1780) has 3 subspecies unevenly Several morphological, physiological and distributed on all over the world. The goitered or behavioral adaptations buffer species against the Persian gazelle (G. s. subgutturosa) is widely effects of adverse environments. Morphological distributed, from to China, and is and physiological adaptations of ungulates especially present in Central Asia. The exposed to high ambient temperatures, or in Mongolian or Hillier's goitered gazelle (G. s. situations of water or energy limitations, are hillieriana; Heude, 1894) is present in Mongolia quite numerous. and China. The Yarkand or Xinjiang goitered gazelle (G.s. yarkandensis; Blanford, 1875) is These include changes in pelt color and selective brain cooling. Among these only present in China. Until recently it was believed that the Arabian or sand gazelle (G.s. adaptations, it has been shown that ungulates marica; Thomas, 1897) - present in southeast may store the heat that otherwise would have Turkey and the Arabian peninsula - was a fourth been lost by evaporation during the day. This subspecies (Kingswood and Blank, 1996); results in wide fluctuations in daily body however it has been proven (Wacher et al., temperature, a phenomenon called 2010) that it is genetically distinct and is now 'heterothermy' (Hetem et al., 2012). Among regarded as a separate species Gazella marica. these adaptations there is, in the warm-wet season, a progressive shift to bimodal feeding Individuals of these three subspecies roam activity during crepuscular peaks. Crepuscular widely and move long distances in search of animals are active during , the latter food, but the extent to which they are migratory being the illumination of the earth's lower is unclear. Recent studies in confirm atmosphere when the sun itself is not directly that the Persian gazelle is migratory (Blank et visible. In other words, they are al., 2012), i.e. Persian gazelles gather into large (active between dawn and sunrise) and groups of several tens of individuals and move (active between dusk and sunset). in continuous waves consisting of several During the hot-dry season, there is an additional hundred gazelles. shift to nocturnal activity. Such observations It has also been observed that, for the Persian mean that for desert ungulates the adjustments gazelle, large congregations occur for the Spring of diurnal activity do not lead to lethargy. migration (from the end of March to early April) Indeed they are accompanied, as defined by and Autumn migration (in October) and mixed- cathemerality, by an increase in nocturnal sex groups (i.e. including male and female) are activity. Bimodal feeding activity has been most numerous during migrations (Blank et al., observed for gazelle (Gazella s. yarkandensis) 2012: 317). The negative impact of the ongoing (Xia et al., 2011).

4 Journal of Zoological Research V3 ● I3 ● 2019 Issues and Challenges in the Conservation of the Goitered Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa; Güldenstädt, 1780)

RESILIENCE TO THE INTENSE HUNTING techniques, the population of the goitered PRESSURE UNTIL THE LATE NINETEEN gazelle thrived. Such resilience is likely the CENTURY result of its adaptability, i.e. of its morphological, physiological and behavioral The goitered gazelle has been intensively hunted features. Thanks to these features, the growth of for centuries and even millennia, as it is well population can be quite impressive. This is attested by travelers' accounts, petroglyphs as illustrated, for instance, recently by the success well as archaeological records (Macdonald, in the Bukhara breeding center (Uzbekistan) 2005; Maraqten et al., 2015). In the mid to late implemented in 1977, with an annual rate of 1300s, muslim armies under the command of growth of the population equal on average to 8 Timur Leng were noted hunters of goitered 35% for the period 1977-1987 (Pereladova et gazelles, killing an estimated of 40,000 each al., 1998). year (Cichon et al., 2011). The hunting pressure was especially high during the Early Bronze CONSERVATION EFFORTS: SPECIES RE- Age, from the Arabian peninsula to the INTRODUCTION AND PROTECTED AREAS Caucasus, when thousand large traps made of Even though its resilience in the wild was strong dried stones (the so-called 'desert kites') were in the past, the current population is on a used for mass-killing the goitered gazelles along continuous decline and therefore conservation their migration paths (Bar-Oz et al., 2011; Zeder efforts, based on re-introduction and the et al., 2013; Svizzero and Tisdell, 2018b). On implementation of protected areas, have been September 01, 2017, 5809 kites were done. inventoried (Globalkites Project, 2017) in South-West Asia, from the peninsula, to Such efforts are important for the conservation the Levant, the , the Caucasus, and of the species itself, but also because the up to the vast steppe of Central Asia. It is worth goitered gazelle plays a central role for the noting that kites were built whereas animal development of seed plants and other animals husbandry was widespread for millennia in all (not only predators) living in arid and semi-arid the concerned regions. We believe that the environments. Indeed, it has been shown that reasons why kites were used for hunting during gazelle’s grazing exerts a positive influence on the period of their utilization changed in vegetation development, especially in sandy response to socio-economic development desert environment (WWF Russia, 2019). In the (Svizzero and Tisdell, 2018a). Even if targeted latter, the absence of ungulates leads to prey remained unchanged - mainly the goitered formation of a solid crust on the surface of the gazelle - as well as the hunting techniques soil, especially in case of high salinity. Vascular which were species-specific, the goals of plant seeds are unable to sprout through this hunters may change, and may even be diverse crust, leaving a cover of black moss to develop during a given period of time. Therefore, we that prevents the normal development of an contend that from the Epipaleolithic to the Early ecosystem. Then, even the moderate grazing Bronze Age, hunters had evolving goals which pressure of gazelles is much better for led them to build and use kites in all sub- ecosystems than the complete absence of periods. Although these goals evolved with the ungulates. In this circumstance, the main reason passage of time, several could have coexisted for reintroduction is not so much to save the during some periods. Beyond the Bronze Age, species itself, but to rehabilitate degraded kites were used; indeed, there is a number of ecosystems such as the area surrounding the travelers' accounts (e.g. Burckhardt, 1831), from Aral Sea, which now primarily constitutes the sixteenth to as late as the twentieth century newly developed deserts. which described kites as structures used for Moreover gazelles are important component of hunting. It is only from the late nineteen ecosystems as prey species for large predators. century, when firearms became widespread, that They were the major prey for the extinct Asian these devices were given up. and can be one of the important prey Despite this intense human predation, during species of leopard in the mountain foothill areas. millennia, and based on traditional hunting That is why some activities on goitered gazelles restoration were initiated in the frame of WWF 8 He was a conqueror and the founder of the Timurid leopard conservation project (WWF Russia, empire in and around modern-day Iran and Central 2019). Besides that, in case of successful Asia. development of the population, gazelles can

Journal of Zoological Research V3 ● I3 ● 2019 5 Issues and Challenges in the Conservation of the Goitered Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa; Güldenstädt, 1780) return to be a regular game animal, and an gazelles have shown that protected areas were additional resource for local people, as it had not well tailored, i.e. should be re-arranged or been for centuries in the history of Central Asia. shifted to areas more intensively used by gazelles (Pereladova et al., 1998; Nowzari et al., Several Central Asian countries (such as e.g. 2007; Farhadinia et al., 2009; Durmus, 2010; Iran, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan) have therefore Bagherirad et al., 2014). For existing as well as multiplied their efforts to create natural reserves, future protected areas, it is therefore important national parks, sanctuaries, and even captive to study the habitat suitability. The aim of these breeding centers (e.g. in Ogurchinsky Island, in studies is to identify the environmental factors - the Caspian Sea - Turkmenistan; WWF Russia, including human presence - that explain the 2019). In these countries, the population is now distribution of the gazelle and then to predict the stable and even increasing, as illustrated by the highly suitable areas for the conservation and two examples below. the management, inside and outside the In Azerbaijan, the population was reduced to protected areas. In some circumstances, such only 200 specimen in the 1960s. Measures were studies may lead to develop a plan for stepped up to conserve the gazelle and they did reconnection of the habitat patches in the area, indeed stop the decline in the population. The and also to re-design the boundaries of the area. establishment of the Bandovan, Absheron, and As pointed out by Bagherirad et al. (2014: 134) Korchay sanctuaries and reserve in their concluding comment pertaining to the followed. By 1972 the gazelle population had study of habitat suitability of Golestan National increased to 1,500 and 10 years later was around Park in Iran, "...poachers from adjacent villages 3,500. In 2003 an area of some 54,000h was (to the area) seem to be the main threat to the declared the Shirvan National Park with the gazelles". main aim of gazelle conservation. The park now On the other hand, as reported by Karlstetter and has some 6,000 animals (WWF, 2019). Mallon (2014, 27), "The range of the species is In Turkmenistan, captive breeding centers were steadily shrinking with surviving populations created and species re-introduction initiated. becoming increasingly fragmented". In other Attempts to establish gazelle breeding centers words, in addition to illegal hunting and habitat were undertaken in the 1980s in Western destruction, habitat fragmentation is also Kopetdagh and Gyaurs, but the most successful becoming a major threat for the goitered gazelle. results were obtained as a result of animals While the creation of protected areas prevents relocation to Ogurchinsky Island in the Caspian habitat destruction, it does not hamper - and Sea, using the sea waters as a natural fence. may even reinforce - habitat fragmentation. Some dozens of animals were set free here and Indeed, most gazelles form groups of one to population grew up to about 800–1000 (which is three individuals all year round (Kingswood and the carrying capacity of the island). Once the Blank, 1996; Blank et al., 2012; Blank, population exceeds this threshold, some Ruckstuhl and Yang, 2012), and therefore specimens are re-introduced elsewhere in habitat fragmentation is a real threat for this Turkmenistan (WWF Russia, 2019). migratory species. THE REQUESTED IMPROVEMENTS: In fact habitat fragmentation reinforces INCREASING HABITAT SUITABILITY OF isolation, and therefore prevents gene flows PROTECTED AREAS AND REDUCING among the population, and this results in a lower HABITAT FRAGMENTATION genetic diversity (Khosravi et al., 2017; Zachos et al., 2010; Abduriyim, Nabi and Halik, 2018). Although the protection of the habitat is As it is well known, gene flow is important to necessary for the conservation of the species, it avoid inbreeding of the population, depression is not sufficient. In fact the conservation effort is of population fitness9 and an increase in facing two main challenges: conservation extinction risk. Such isolation can be due to strategies have to focus on both, the either physical distance, or barriers (including preservation of adequate habitat areas, and the linear infrastructures made by humans, such as spatial distribution of these areas throughout the roads, railways, pipelines; UNEP/CMS, 2014) landscape. or ecological distance, or any combination On the one hand several studies (e.g. using GPS thereof. telemetry) pertaining to habitat selection and home range size of re-introduced goitered 10 Due to the random loss of heterozygosity.

6 Journal of Zoological Research V3 ● I3 ● 2019 Issues and Challenges in the Conservation of the Goitered Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa; Güldenstädt, 1780)

There are a variety of approaches for assessing (Artiodactyla: ) in north-western China the extent of isolation, but most involve the as revealed by the mitochondrial cytochrome b notion of landscape resistance (i.e. the gene, Acta zoologica bulgarica 70(2): 211-218. impediments to gene flow) caused by landscape [2] Bagherirad, E. et al. (2014), Predicting habitat features. Under the classic model of Isolation by suitability of the goitered gazelle (Gazella (physical or geographical) Distance (IBD), the subgutturosa subgutturosa) using presence- resistance value is defined by Euclidean only data in , Iran, International journal of biological sciences and distance between two sites. Essentially, the applications 1(4): 124-136. surface over which the individual is roaming is based upon a uniform value (whatever the [3] Bar-Oz, et al. (2011), Role of mass-kill hunting strategies in the extirpation of Persian gazelle spatial unit being used) and is homogeneously (Gazella subgutturosa) in the northern Levant, spread across the intervening landscape. Then, PNAS 108(8): 7345–7350. Euclidean geometry provides the shortest path. [4] Blank, D., K.E. Ruckstuhl and W. Yang (2012), Isolation by Barriers (IBB) is a model in which Social organization in goitered gazelle (Gazella some discrete boundary on the landscape subgutturosa Güldenstaedt 1780), , changes the resistance value (e.g. the presence Ecology & Evolution 24(4): 306-321. of linear infrastructures). Isolation by Resistance [5] Blank, D. et al. (2012), Groupping pattern of (or ecological distance)(IBR) takes into account the goitered gazelle, Gazella subgutturosa that the landscape consists of a heterogeneous (Cetartiodactyla: bovidae) in Kazakhstan, mix of resistance values depending upon what Mammalia 76: 149-155. features the individual must traverse (e.g. forest, [6] Burckhardt, J. L. (1831), Notes on the Bedouins desert, savannah..). Some may be impenetrable and Wahabys. Kessinger Publishing, London. (a very large resistance value), some may be just [7] Buuveibaatar, B. et al. (2017), Mongolian Gobi accumulate larger than normal resistance values. supports the world's largest populations of khulan Equus hemionus and goitered gazelles A priori, protected areas do not prevent from Gazella subgutturosa, 51(4): 639-647. isolation, and the opposite is even likely to [8] Cichon, C., Y. Woo and K. Woo (2011), Gazella occur. Then, the protected areas should also subgutturosa (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. either be located close to natural migration Accessed June 29, 2019 at http://animal corridors, or allow exchanges of individuals diversity.org/accounts/Gazella_subgutturosa/ between them in order to prevent loss of genetic [9] Clark, E.L. et al. (2006), Mongolian red list of diversity, as suggested by Khosravi et al; mammals. Edited by E. Dulamsteren et al.. (2017). The importance of this conclusion is Zoological society of London: London. reinforced by the fact that some recent genetic [10] Durmus, M. (2010), Determination of home studies realized on free-living and wild range habitat selection of gazelles (Gazella populations of goitered gazelle have already subgutturosa) by GPS telemetry in Sanliurfa revealed a low level of genetic diversity. (Master's thesis). Middle East technical University, Ankara. Zachos et al. (2010) observed that gazelles from [11] Farhadinia, M.S. et al. (2009), Goitered the Sohrein plain (Iran) had a very low Gazelle, Gazella subgutturosa: its habitat nucleotide diversity and concluded that a preference and conservation needs in bottleneck in the most recent past cannot be Miandasht Wildlife Refuge, north-eastern Iran ruled out, even though the Sohrein population (Mammalia: Artiodactyla), in the does not seem to have experienced a particularly middle east 46: 9-18. dramatic decrease in effective population. [12] Fuller, A., R.S. Hetem, S.K. Maloney, D. Almost the same observation and conclusion Mitchell (2014), Adaptation to Heat and Water were reached by Abduriyim et al. (2018) from a Shortage in Large, Arid-Zone Mammals, study of goitered gazelles living in North- Physiology 29(3): 159-167. DOI: 10.1152/ western China (Xinjiang). physiol.00049. [13] Globalkites Project (2017), http://www.global REFERENCES kites.fr/Interactive-Map, accessed on June 29, [1] Abduriyim S., A. Nabi and M. Halik (2018), 2019. Low genetic diversity in the goitered gazelle [14] Hetem, R.S. et al. (2012), Does size matter? Gazella subgutturosa (Güldenstädt, 1780) Comparison of body temperature and activity

Journal of Zoological Research V3 ● I3 ● 2019 7 Issues and Challenges in the Conservation of the Goitered Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa; Güldenstädt, 1780)

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Citation: Serge SVIZZERO, “Issues and Challenges in the Conservation of the Goitered Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa; Güldenstädt, 1780)”, Journal of Zoological Research, 3(3), 2019, pp: 1-9

Copyright: © 2019 Serge SVIZZERO. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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