Aryal Achyut, Brunton Dianne, Ji Weihong, Raubenheimer David
Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand; Fauna and Flora Conservation Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Integr Zool. 2014 Jan;9(1):34-45. doi: 10.1111/1749-4877.12004.
The Himalaya region of Nepal provides a habitat for the endangered snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and its principal prey species, the blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur). The aim of this study was to describe the habitat, the distribution and the population structure of blue sheep, and to estimate their contribution to the carrying capacity of snow leopard in the upper Mustang region of Nepal. Blue sheep were recorded at altitudes from 3209-5498 m on slopes with gradients of 16-60° and aspects of 40°NE to 140°SE. A total of 939 blue sheep were counted in the upper Mustang region, and 98 were counted in the Yak Kharka region of Manang district; however, upper Mustang had the lowest population density of blue sheep recorded within their distribution range in Nepal (0.86 blue sheep/km(2)). The results of the study show that a higher density of blue sheep is associated with greater plant species diversity. The most important species present in the blue sheep habitat were Kobresia pygmaea, Artemesia spp., Lonicera spp., Lancea tibetica, Poa spp., Astragalus spp. and Ephedra gerardiana. It is estimated that the existing blue sheep population biomass of approximately 38 925 kg in the upper Mustang region could support approximately 19 snow leopards (1.6 snow leopards/100 km(2)).
尼泊尔的喜马拉雅地区为濒危的雪豹（Panthera uncia）及其主要猎物岩羊（Pseudois nayaur）提供了栖息地。本研究的目的是描述岩羊的栖息地、分布和种群结构，并估计它们对尼泊尔上木斯塘地区雪豹承载能力的贡献。在海拔3209 - 5498米、坡度为16 - 60°、方位角为东北40°至东南140°的山坡上记录到了岩羊。在上木斯塘地区共统计到939只岩羊，在马南地区的亚克卡尔卡地区统计到98只；然而，上木斯塘的岩羊种群密度是尼泊尔境内其分布范围内记录到的最低值（0.86只岩羊/平方公里）。研究结果表明，较高密度的岩羊与更丰富的植物物种多样性相关。岩羊栖息地中最重要的物种有矮嵩草、蒿属植物、忍冬属植物、川西小黄菊、早熟禾属植物、黄芪属植物和膜果麻黄。据估计，上木斯塘地区现有的岩羊种群生物量约为38925千克，可支持约19只雪豹（每100平方公里1.6只雪豹）。
