Title
Effects of Food Availability on Time Budget and Home Range of Siberian Marmots in Mongolia
Author(s)
Buuveibaatar, B;.;Yoshihara, Y.
Published
2012
Publisher
Mongolian Journal of Biological Sciences
Abstract
The Siberian marmot (Marmota sibirica) is a common rodent species that
ranges widely throughout northern Asia. However, due to overharvesting
for fur and meats its population in Mongolia declined steeply and they are
now categorized as an endangered. They are considered a keystone species
because they can have a great impact on the landscape heterogeneity and its
burrows serve as a refuge for a variety of taxa. Despite the important roles
in the ecosystem and endangered status of the Siberian marmots, there is no
study quantifi ed behavioral ecology of this species in Mongolia. We studied
effects of food availability on home range and time budget of the Siberian
marmot in Hustai National Park, Mongolian, during 16-29 June, 2007. We
conducted direct observations and vegetation surveys at one livestock grazed
and one ungrazed site. Vegetation biomass, percent cover, plant height, and
number of plant species were lower in the grazed site than in the ungrazed
site. Marmots in the grazed site used larger home ranges, spent more time
foraging, and spent less time vigilant compared to marmots in the ungrazed
site.
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PUB13484