The Population And Distribution Research Of Blue Sheep(Pseudois Navaur) And Ibex(Capra Sibirica)in West Kunlun Mountain Area

As the main prey of endangered Snow leopard (Uncia uncia) and the important international hunting species of China, the population and distribution of Blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) and Ibex (Capra sibirica) has always been more concern. Due to some mankind interference factors like mining, overgrazing are getting more serious, in addition, in recent years, the disease are spreading out the region, the wild ungulates population is under serious threat.Two investigations were conducted in Xinjiang province, one was in Kudi area of Yecheng County in Auguest and September of2010, the other one was in Maryang area of the Taxkurgan autonomous county in March and April of2011. Transact method was used for data collection.10transacts was investigated in Kudi area in2010, the total transact length reach to100km,15tranacts was investigated in Maryang area in2011, the total transact length reach to45km.In the winter investigation of Maeryang area in2011,2groups blue sheep and447Ibex individuals in36groups were found. Due to the low population density of blue sheep, so population density weren’t calculated, only the Ibex population density was estimated, get the population density of that region was3.783head/km2, average transact width is1979.23m. By the summer investigation of Kudi area in2010,244blue sheep individuals in24groups and78Ibex individuals in9groups were observed, and obtain the area population density of blue sheep was3.075head/km2, average transact width was1834.34m; Ibex population density was1.27head/km2, average transact width was1634.67m.By inputting the winter habitat points of Ibex to ARCGis9.3, some the habitat selection tendency was found. Very steep slope(>45°) was avoided, Ibex tend to move between20-40°slope, and the relatively flat slope30°was the most ideal slope. And on the impact factor of human disturbance, Ibex groups tend to move in the range of1000-2000m from herder point. And in the choice of aspect, Ibex tend to choose aspect of south and north, and avoid the east and west aspect. In the choice of elevation, Ibex mainly choose in the range of3500-4500m and the elevation of about4000m was the most ideal choice. Finally, Ibex groups mainly move in the range of450m from the cliff.There are3activity peak period in one day for Ibex. The first one is around noon, almost all the Ibex individuals were active and no individuals were in rest state; the second peak is in the afternoon, it’s about18:30in Beijing time; about an hour later after this peak, Ibex group get to the third peak, it’s the time nightfall is going to come. For the activity time distribution, feeding time takes most of the time for about83.9%, the second is moving time, accounting for almost8%, finally stand and rest time, accounting for respectively4.7%and3.33%.