Snow Leopard Survival Strategy - Panthera

Harris, R. B., D. H. Pletscher, C. O. Loggers and D. J.
Miller. 1999. Status and trends of Tibetan plateau
mammalian fauna, Yeniugou, China. Biological
Conservation 87(1): 13-19.
We conducted surveys focusing on the unique and
vulnerable ungulate species in Yeniugou, Qinghai
province, China, during September 1997 to compare
population estimates with those from the early 1990s.
The status of two ungulate species appeared essentially
unchanged since 1990-1992: wild yak Bos grunniens
(about 1200 to 1300 animals) and Tibetan gazelle
Procapra picticaudata. The status of one ungulate species,
the white-lipped deer Cervus albirostris, appeared to
improve, from a very few to close to 100. We are unsure
how the status of the Tibetan wild ass Equus kiang
compares with that of the early 1990s. The status of three
species declined during the period: blue sheep Pseudois
nayaur and argali Ovis ammon declined slightly (possibly
due to a weather event), and the Tibetan antelope
Pantholops hodgsoni declined dramatically (probably
due primarily to poaching), from over 2000 estimated in
1991 to only two seen during 1997. Poaching of antelope
has become a serious problem throughout the Tibetan
plateau in recent years, and this survey provides evidence
that an entire subpopulation can disappear (either through
mortality, movement away from human disturbance or a
combination) within a relatively short time-frame. That
some species (e.g. wild yak, white-lipped deer) continue
to thrive in Yeniugou is heartening, but even they remain
vulnerable to market-driven poaching.
Harris, R. B., W. A. Wall and F. W. Allendorf. 2002.
Genetic consequences of hunting: what do we know
and what should we know? Wildlife Society Bulletin
30(2):634-643.
Possible evolutionary consequences of sport hunting
have received relatively little consideration by wildlife
managers. We reviewed the literature on genetic
implications of sport hunting of terrestrial vertebrates
and recommend research directions to address current
uncertainties. Four potential effects can be ascribed to
sport hunting: 1) it may alter the rate of gene flow among
neighboring demes, 2) it may alter the rate of genetic
drift through its effect on genetically effective population
size, 3) it may decrease fitness by deliberately culling
individuals with traits deemed undesirable by hunters or
managers, and 4) it may inadvertently decrease fitness
by selectively removing individuals with traits desired
by hunters. Which, if any, of these effects are serious
concerns depends on the nature and intensity of harvest
as well as the demographic characteristics and breeding
system of the species at issue. Undesirable genetic
consequences from hunting have been documented in
only a few cases, and we see no urgency. However,
studies specifically investigating these issues have been
rare, and such consequences require careful analysis
and long time periods to detect. Existing information
is sufficient to suggest that hunting regimes producing
sex- and age-specific mortality patterns similar to those
occurring naturally, or which maintain demographic
structures conducive to natural breeding patterns, will
have fewer long-term evolutionary consequences than
those producing highly uncharacteristic mortality
patterns.
Harveson, L. A., B. Route, F. Armstrong, N. J. Silvy,
and M. E. Tewes. 1999. Trends in populations of
mountain lion in Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe
Mountains National Parks. Southwestern Naturalist
44(4):490-494.
In the United States, the mountain lion (Puma concolor)
is limited to the western states and an isolated population
in Florida. Recent reports suggest that numbers of
mountain lions in the west are increasing; however, most
estimates are based on biased harvest records, mortality
reports, or sightings. Our purpose was to assess trends
in mountain lion populations in two areas within the
Chihuahuan Desert by use of multiple-sign surveys.
Transects were monitored in spring and fall 1987 to 1996
in Carlsbad Caverns (CCNP) and Guadalupe Mountains
National Parks (GMNP). Amount and type of mountain
lion sign in each park differed and was likely related to
the dominant substrate. A decreasing trend in mountain
lion sign was observed on GMNP from fall 1987 to fall
1991 and an increasing trend in mountain lion sign was
observed from Spring 1992 to Spring 1996. No trend
was observed on CCNP from fall 1987 to spring 1996.
Mortalities on adjacent lands may have reduced numbers
of mountain lions at GMNP. Multiple-sign transects
may provide a useful tool for monitoring populations of
mountain lions in other regions of the Southwest.
Hayward, B., E. J. Heske, C. W. Painter. 1997. Effects
of livestock grazing on small mammals at a desert
cienaga. Journal of Wildlife Management 61(1):123-
129.
Livestock in arid regions often concentrate their grazing
in riparian areas, and this activity can have strong effects
on native vegetation and wildlife. Small mammals at a
desert wetland (cienaga) in southwestern New Mexico
were more abundant on 2 l-ha plots from which livestock
were excluded over a 10-year period than on 2 similar
grazed plots (P = 0.025). However, species of small
mammals differed in the direction and degree of their
responses to livestock exclusion. Differences in mean
abundance between grazed versus ungrazed plots could
not be demonstrated for any species of small mammal
individually because of strong annual variation in
abundance and low statistical power of tests. However,
the cumulative effect was that small mammals were
50% more abundant on plots from which livestock were
excluded. Because small mammals provide an important
resource base for many animals at higher trophic levels,
even a few livestock enclosures of moderate size
could benefit a variety of species of wildlife in desert
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