Архив метки: saiga

CURRENT STATUS AND RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF SOME BIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF SAIGA POPULATIONS INHABITING TERRITORY OF RUSSIA AND KAZAKHSTAN

Arid Ecosystems

Karimova T.Yu., Lushchekina A.A., Neronov V.M. CURRENT STATUS AND RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF SOME BIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF SAIGA POPULATIONS INHABITING TERRITORY OF RUSSIA AND KAZAKHSTAN // Arid ecosystems. 2021. V. 27. № 2 (87). P. 57-67 | PDF

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the number of saigas (Saiga tatarica tatarica L., 1766) has sharply decreased twice as a result of human activity. But if for the first time the number of all four populations – the North-West Pre-Caspian, Ustyurt, Volga-Ural and Betpakdala – has recovered and by the 70-80s of last century there were more than 1 million heads, then the second time (since the beginning of the 21st century) an increase in the number of these ungulates was noted only for two populations – the Volga-Ural and Betpakdala. The aim of the study was to analyze the biological parameters of the four populations and to find out the differences that allowed saigas inhabiting the Volga-Ural interfluve and Betpakdala to overcome the depression phase and begin to recover their numbers. At the end of the 20th century, the economic situation in the states where saigas were widespread at that time led to an increase in poaching among the population, which led to a sharp decrease in the total number of these ungulates to 50,000. The area of the main range decreased 50 times for the saiga population of the North-West Pre-Caspian, 2.4-5 times for the other three populations. The length and mass of seasonal migrations also decreased, and the saiga population of the North-West Pre-Caspian has become practically sedentary. In the period of low numbers, all populations have shown a decrease in the number of herds of different sizes found throughout the year, and in 56-100% of cases, herds of up to 50 animals were registered. In the early 2000s, the main biological parameters characterizing the four saiga populations were comparable, with the proportion of adult males and the yield of young animals per female in July-August being higher than in the other three populations (11.5±1.9 and 0.81±0.18 vs. 8.7±3.8 and 0.48±0.40, respectively). The growth of the Volga-Ural and Betpakdala populations became possible primarily due to the organization of effective protection and education of the local people with the support of the state government and international funds, which allowed reduce the press of poaching significantly.

Keywords: saiga, number, spatial distribution, migration, population structure, fecundity.

DOI: 10.24411/1993-3916-2021-10151

BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SAIGA POPULATION OF THE NORTHWEST PRECASPIAN REGION IN PERIODS DEPENDING ON THE VARIATIONS IN POPULATION SIZE

Arid Ecosystems

Karimova T.Yu.,  Lushchekina A.A.,  Neronov V.M.,  Pyurvenova N.Yu.,  Arylov Yu.N. BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SAIGA POPULATION OF THE NORTHWEST PRECASPIAN REGION IN PERIODS DEPENDING ON THE VARIATIONS IN POPULATION SIZE // Arid ecosystems. 2020. V. 26. № 4 (85). P. 51-58. | PDF

The size of the population of the saiga (Saiga tatarica tatarica L., 1766) in the Northwest Precaspian region has remained extremely low over the past 20 years. Comparison of some biological parameters of the population in the periods characterized by different animal numbers revealed some features of the phase of population depression. Thus, apart from the decrease in the numbers of saigas (from 800 thousand in 1958 to 4.5 thousand in 2016), its habitat also decreased (from 60-70 thousand km2 to 2-3 thousand km2, respectively), and a significant part of the population switched to a sedentary lifestyle in the protected areas of the Chernye Zemli ecoregion. The shortage of mature males in the population (less than 10%) over a long time led to a reduction in its growth and, consequently, to a decrease in the numbers. At the same time, the total fertility of females decreased from 1.27 ± 0.25 in the years of high numbers to 0.92 ± 0.39 due to an increase in fertility in different age groups, which resulted from lack of males in the population. More males are born in the population than females (51.9% and 48.1%, respectively). The increased weight of newborn saigas (on average by 100 g in both males and females) and their decreased mortality in the first days after birth (under favorable weather conditions) indirectly indicate the normal process course of embryogenesis and sufficient quantity and quality of feed. An increase in the proportion of mature males will lead to an increase in the population size, reproductive functions of which remained virtually unchanged during its depression.

Key words: saiga, Northwest Caspian region, abundance, age and sex composition, reproductive indicators, spatial distribution.

DOI: 10.24411/1993-3916-2020-10118