Population abundance and landscape

connectivity of snow leopards and the

implications for conservation

J. Janecka, B Munkhtsog, R. Jackson

Texas A&M University, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Irbis

Mongolia, Snow Leopard Conservancy,

Photo: Snow Leopard Conservancy

Snow Leopard

Distribution

What is the population size across

range?

Are they increasing or decreasing?

Traditional Snow Leopard Surveys

Monitor Snow Leopard Sign

Tracks Tracks

Scent

Rocks

Fresh Scrape

Urine

Scat

Photo: Snow Leopard Conservancy

Non-Target

Species/Failure

Samples of

Target Species

Landsat Image, South Gobi Non-invasive Techniques

Noninvasive Samples

Study Population

Samples of

Individuals

Minimum

Number

?

Temporal

Replicates

Population

Size Distribution

Population

Trends

100 km

Map of Scat

F11, M12,

F13, M14

M8,

F10, F11

M7, M8

M9, F11

Individual Snow Leopards Identified in the Tost Mountains of the Gobi Desert by Genetic Analysis Noninvasively Collected Scat

Gurvansaikhan National Park

Population Size Estimate

- N = 36 individuals (C.I. = 18 – 50, CAPWIRE maximum likelihood

estimator)

- Area surveyed = 556.9 km2 (mean maximum distance moved = 6.0 km)

- Density: 6.5 snow leopards/100 km2

Dalanzagdad

Snow leopard scats

MMDM buffer (6.0 km)

6 M

4 F

3 M

2 F

0 M

0 F

2 M

1 F

Abundance Correlates Across Mongolia

Area Transects Total Km

Scrapes/ km

SL scat/ km

SL #/ km

Easter Beauty 10 28.80 2.39 1.20 0.56

Middle Beauty 4 12.59 0.11 0.04 0.04

Western Beauty 10 25.46 7.24 1.10 0.52

Tost Uul 7 22.19 10.56 1.63 0.87

Noyon Uul 6 15.55 3.46 1.69 1.08

Arts Bogd 3 6.11 4.94 3.90 0.72

Baga Bogd 2 4.25 6.58 1.33 0.48

Tsagaan Shuvuut 3 5.30 17.26 7.07 1.62

Preliminary surveys in Tsagaan suggest highest densities

Purple dots represent documented snow leopard sign and approximates species distribution. Green circles represent sites sampled between 2006-09.

Tsagaan

Baga Bogd

Tost Uul

Arts Bogd

Noyon Uul

Gurvansaikhan National Park

Turgen

Altan Khokii

200 km

N

Jargalant

Highest Abundance

Lowest Abundance

Intermediate Abundance

Snow Leopard Abundance Assessed through Noninvasive Genetics Surveys

Survey site Snow Leopard sign previously observed

Purple dots represent documented snow leopard sign and approximates species distribution. Green circles represent sites sampled between 2006-09.

200 km

N

Estimates of Landscape Level Connectivity using Genetics

Survey site Snow Leopard sign previously observed

Less Landscape connectivity Mean Fst = 0.098

More Landscape connectivity Mean Fst = 0.069

Altai

Gobi

Greatest Difference between Altai and Gobi Fst = 0.130

Training and Capacity Building for Genetic Analysis

Acknowledgements COLLABORATORS:

Ghalum Mohammad

Mohammad Bilai

Shafqat Hussain

Sonam Wang

Tshewang Wangchuck

William Murphy

Scott Mills

Nicole Samsel

Zhang Yu-quang

Li Di-qiang

Tom McCarthy

Misha Paltsyn

WWF-Mongolia

Funding and Logistical Support Provided by:

Snow Leopard Conservancy

Snow Leopard Conservation Grants Program

Irbis Mongolia

Mongolian Academy of Sciences National Science Foundation

National Geographic Society

Texas A&M University

Duo

Joyce Robinson

Jigmet Dadul

Ma

Rinchen Wangchuk

Shaarav

Tashi Thundup

Tungalag

Assistance Provided by:

Adilbish

Ali Wilkerson

Baatar

Boldbaatar

Brian Davis

Colleen Fisher

Darla Hillard

Dorj

Nadia Mijiddorj

Photo: Snow Leopard Conservancy