Study On The Existing Status Quo And Habitat Selection Of Argali (Ovis Ammon) From The Central Of Inner Mongolia

In the paper I was first time to study on the O. a. darwini population from Erennaoer, Sonid Right Banner, Xilingol League of Inner Mongolia Autonomous, by infrared cameras, line transect and other means combined to conduct field investigations in October 2012 to July 2014. Through the study of the existing status quo of the status quo and argali habitat selection to explore the factors that affecting the survival status of the region argali populations’living environment and analyze the threats impacts, protection measures for the argali population. In order to abundance the research data of the Gobi argali (O. a. darwini) from the middle of Inner Mongolia. The main results of my paper were as following:(1) We investigate show that the populations were composed of three adult (2♂ 1♀), two sub-adults (1 ♂ 1♀) and an offspring (1♂) and the sex ratio was 1:2(Fig.3). The average capture rate of argali was 38% with infrared cameras. We evaluated the activity frequency standard of the argali according to the capture rate, which showed that the highest activity frequency in spring, and in winter the activity frequency as the same as summer, while in autumn the activity frequency was least. The using ratios of source of water, Argali was 2%, carnivorous wildlife was 21% and livestock was 77%.(2) The argali were preferable choose the middle slope and sunny slope in the cold season, altitude:1050 m～1100 m, the residential distance:1500 m ～2000 m, the distance of water:1000 m～2000 m and the salt point distance: 1000 m～1200 m, while they avoided choose the area which was sunny and down slope sites, altitude:1100 m～1150 m, residential distance is less than 1000 m, and they were away from the salt point was range 1000 m from 3000 m. When the warm season the argali preference the middle slope, where the altitude less than 1100 m, sheltering between 30% to 40%, the residential distance is less than 1500 m, the distance of water is more than 1500 m and the salt point distance greater than 1200 m; they avoid selected the down slope sites, the area that the altitude alter range 1100 m from 1150 m, sheltering in 50% to 60%, the distance of settlements is greater than 2000 m, the distance of water points less than 1500 m, the distance of salt point is less than 1000 m. The argali had no significant selective for the sunny slope and shady slope.We analyzed the seven Eigen values of cold season that the main contributions were 66.582%,17.555%,10.891%,2.183%,1.465%,0.893% and 0.430%. Where the altitude, the sheltering, the residential distance, the distance from water points, and the distance from salt point were as the first principal component factors, indicating that the factors were greater impact on the argali habitat. Aspect and slope position information with a larger load capacity, which was constituted the second principal component for the impact of argali resting habitat selection.We analyzed the seven Eigen values of the warm season that the main contributions were 68.356%,15.278%,12.544%,3.075%,0.502%,0.187% and 0.057%. Among them, the altitude, the sheltering, the residential distance, the distance from water points, and the distance from salt point were as the first principal component factors, indicating that the factors were greater impact on the argali habitat. Aspect and slope position information with a larger load capacity, which was constituted the second principal component for the impact of argali resting habitat selection.According to the impact factor location maps shows that the active area of the population was surrounded by residential areas, it was severe caused the habitat loss, making it an isolate island; the active area of argali and carnivorous animals were serious overlap and lead to prey increased risk for argali. The argali prefer to select the area where the lower human activities, shorter distance from the headwaters and the better shelter.Currently, firstly, the people were lack of knowledge and protection about the argali, their habitat has been destroyed and the threat caused by human activity, secondly, the managers were lack of enforcement power is the greatest threat of argali protection, it is recommended to take in situ conservation and ex-situ conservation, and development and management the water resources of the region, in addition, strengthen the management of human activities, increase legal concept, Finally, it should learn from other protected area condominium community to take appropriate compensatory mechanisms.