This document discusses using geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing to study and conserve two endangered ungulate species in Mongolia, the Asiatic wild ass or khulan and the goitered gazelle. GPS collars were used to track the movements of 20 khulans and 10 gazelles, finding that they range widely, including important habitat areas outside of protected areas. Ground surveys estimated populations of around 36,000 khulans and 28,000 gazelles in Southern Gobi. Spatial modeling identified surface water and human disturbance as most influencing species distributions, with around 25% of suitable habitat for each located within protected areas. GIS and remote sensing were useful conservation planning tools.

1. GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM AND
REMOTE SENSING FOR WIDLIFE
CONSERVATION
B. Buuveibaatar
Wildlife Conservation Society

2. Outline
1. Movements of Asiatic wild ass or khulan
2. Movements of goitered gazelle
3. Ground-based ungulate survey - population
estimates and habitat modeling

3. Target species
Khulan Goitered gazelle
Status: Endangered Vulnerable
CMS: Appendix II Appendix II
Threats: Illegal hunting, habitat fragmentation,
direct and indirect habitat loss

4. Global range of khulan

5. Global range of goitered gazelle

6. • Identify critical habitat
• Estimate population size
• Determine factors influencing their
distribution
Project goals
Background

7. 1. Movements of khulan

8. Vectronic GPS collar
• Overall weight 950 g
• Collect a GPS location every 1h
• Store temperature and activity data
• Battery life 2 year

9. Area 2
Capture locations of the collared khulan
20 animals collared in August 2013 (7 females & 13 males),
collected 291,077 GPS locations until August 2015

10. 20 khulan monitored for 2 years
(291,077 GPS locations)
Total range of all khulan
(100% Minimum Convex
Polygon): 94,191 km²
Individual ranges: 11,000 – 63,000 km²

11. On average 29% (range = 8-60%) of khulan locations were in PAs

12. Large ranges, certain hot-spots
Results
yellow = low, blue = high
--> The 10-30 km restricted entry zone the international
border seems to constitute important winter habitat
--> The Small Gobi “B” SPA and the area north of the
SPA seem to constitute important summer habitat

13. Critical water points for khulan
--> Several specific water points receive heavy
and repeated use

14. 2. Movements of goitered gazelles

15. Collar release device
Solar panel
Battery
Antenna
The Sirtrack GPS collar
• Overall weight 450 g
• Battery life 1.5 year
• Collect a GPS location
every 2h
• Store temperature and
activity data

16. Goitered gazelle capture sites
10 animals collared in Sep 2014 (5 females & 5 males),
collected > 32,000 GPS locations until Jan 2016

17. Movements (Sep 2014 – Jan 2016)
Only 7% of overall locations
observed in a protected area
Individual range = 664 – 4,988 km2

18. Movements paths of gazelles in relation to surface water
Surface water determines distribution of gazelles in dry season

19. Survey extent – 98,216 sq.km,
Survey effort – 3,464 km
3. The ground-based ungulate survey

20. Field surveys
2012 – Autumn
2013, 2014, 2015 – Spring

21. Population estimates
Results
• Abundance estimate of 35,899 (CV = 18%)
khulan and 28,462 (CV = 15%) goitered gazelles
--> Southern Gobi supports the world’s largest population
of khulan and goitered gazelles

22. Layers
NDVI (MODIS)
Slope (DEM)
Household Surface water
Elevation (30 m DEM)
Disturbance (TNC)
Spatial modeling

23. Spatial modeling
5 km
N = 724Geospatial Modelling Environment

24. Model development
• Generalized Linear Mixed Model
• Binomial error distribution
• Random effect - Year
• Model selection AIC
Full model: ungulate ~ NDVI + disturbance +
household + elevation + slope + water + (1|year)

25. Importance of predictor variables explaining
spatial distribution of ungulates
Cumulative effects of human
associated factors (82% for khulan and
65% for goitered gazelle) were higher
than environmental variables

26. Autumn 2012
Khulan habitat: 0.55%
Spring 2013
Spring 2014 Spring 2015
Khulan habitat: 0.48%
Khulan habitat: 0.45% khulan habitat: 0.51%
Khulan habitat (probability threshold >0.5) during 2012-2015

27. Goitered gazelle habitat (probability > 0.5) during 2012-2015
Autumn 2012
Gazelle habitat: 0.55%
Spring 2013
Spring 2014 Spring 2015
Gazelle habitat: 0.51%
Gazelle habitat: 0.53% Gazelle habitat: 0.50%

28. Conclusions
Conclusions
• Southern Gobi supports the world’s largest
population of khulan and goitered gazelles
• Surface water predominantly determine the
distribution of the two species during the dry seasons
• Human associated factors influence suitable habitats
of the ungulates during spring
• About 27% of khulan and 23% of goitered gazelle
suitable habitats were located within four protected
areas
• GIS and RS are important tool for conservation
planning of wildlife conservation

29. Acknowledgement
 University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna
 Institute of General and Experimental Biology
 State Central Veterinary Laboratory
 Dornogobi Environmental Protection Agency
Sustainability East Asia
Oyu Tolgoi, LLC

30. Questions?
Photo by P. Kaczensky