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Both the saiga's range and its populations have been severely affected by socio-political and land use changes over the last century, related to the formation and dissolution of the Soviet Union. We identified ecological drivers of saiga migration, compared four populations in terms of differences in the geographical characteristics of their ranges and the factors affecting habitat selection within the seasonal ranges.
Saiga and outgroup specimens were subjected to X-ray computed tomographic (CT) imaging, gross dissection and skeletonization. The nasal cavity of saiga is characterized by an enlarged nasal vestibule and basal conchal fold. Many structures (e.g. turbinates, lateral cartilages, mucosal folds, nasolacrimal duct) are retracted caudally to a small area in the caudodorsal part of the nasal cavity proper. The enlarged vestibule is associated laterally and ventrally with paired sacs. The nasal septum is largely membranous and contains a large patch of cavernous tissue that serves as a dynamic baffle modifying the flow of inspired air...
In this study we explore the factors influencing inferred poaching behav- iour of the Critically Endangered saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) in six communities in three countries of the former Soviet Union. We show that local people have a good understanding of the species' status and positive attitudes towards its conservation, regardless of their household's inferred poaching status. Poaching is a low prestige occupation, and our analyses suggest that it is carried out by poor, unemployed households who have the means to hunt. These results are consistent for all villages.
The overarching aims of the project were to estimate
population size of saiga antelope with associated confidence
intervals across its entire range in western Mongolia, and to
conduct spatial modelling on the survey data to assess the human
and environmental factors influencing the distribution of the
saiga.
Access the report here: Western Mongolian
Population Assessment
In order to describe the population dynamics of the saiga antelope adequately, a discreet time, stochastic age-structured model is needed. Management strategies investigated are: taking a proportion of the population or a constant number of individuals; selecting the individuals killed by age and sex or harvesting in the proportions found in the population; harvesting every year, every other year or only in years with a good climate. These options are chosen with reference to the management strategies that were in place before the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Satellite tracking of gazelles proved their ability to move long distances and provided details of their migration routes. In Omnogobi, the NDVI of the summer range was higher than those of annual and winter ranges during summer, but from October to November the NDVI of the summer range was lower than annual or winter ranges. The shift in NDVI values between summer and winter ranges corresponded with seasonal migrations of gazelles.
Despite the potential effects of numerous sex-skewed harvests, in this paper we investigate one potentially deleterious effect of sex-skewed harvests. Both theory and experimental data suggest that male ungulates are limited in their absolute ability to inseminate females.
Using a Leslie-Matrix model and published data on impala, we show that the interaction between sperm limitation and harvests with highly male-biased sex ratios can lead to greatly reduced female fecundity (defined as the number of young born) and population collapse. These results are robust and suggest that present methods of harvesting may not be optimal or viable in the long term.