Title
Activity, movements, and sociality of newborn Mongolian gazelle calves in the Eastern Steppe
Author(s)
Odonkhuu, D.;Olson, K. A.;Schaller, G. B.;Ginsberg, J. R.;Fuller, T. K.
Published
2009
Publisher
Acta Theriologica
Abstract
We hand-captured, fitted with motion-sensitive VHF transmitters, and monitored 19 newborn (1-2 days old) Mongolian gazelle Procapra gutturosa Pallas, 1777 calves in Dornod, Mongolia during the 2000 and 2003 calving seasons to identify changes in activity, movements, and sociality with age. Overall, activity was highly variable throughout the day, regardless of age or year. Calf activity increased, however, from day 2 (age = 2 days; 18% total activity) to day 7 (29%), and 3-fold by day 25 (54%). By days 5-8, calves had moved an average of 6.6 km (range: 2-21 km) from capture sites but were still only seen alone or with their mother. By day 24-26, however, they were located an average of 41 km (range: 24-63 km) away from their capture site, and most (7 of 9) were in aggregations of >1000 animals. Mongolian gazelles do not display behaviour associated with "hiders" after about 2-3 weeks. This reflects the wide-ranging, nomadic existence of the species.
Keywords
Diel activity;Distance;Gazelle;Group;Radiotelemetry
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PUB14429