Data from: Status of the mountain ungulate prey of the endangered snow leopard Panthera uncia in the Tost Local Protected Area, South Gobi, Mongolia

The availability of wild prey is a critical predictor of carnivore density. However, few conservation programmes have focused on the estimation and monitoring of wild ungulate populations and their trends, especially in the remote mountains of Central Asia. We conducted double-observer surveys to estimate the populations of ibex Capra sibirica and argali Ovis ammon in the mountainous regions of Tost Local Protected Area, South Gobi province, Mongolia, which is being considered for designation as a Nature Reserve. We also conducted demographic surveys of the more abundant ibex to examine their sex-ratio and the survival of young during 2012–2013. The estimated ibex population remained stable in 2012 and 2013 and the estimated argali population increased from 108 in 2012 to 230 in 2013. The biomass of wild ungulates was c. 6% that of livestock. Mortality in young ibex appeared to increase after weaning, at the age of 12 months. We estimated the population of wild ungulates was sufficient to support 14–18 adult snow leopards Panthera uncia. The adult snow leopard population in our study area during 2012–2013, estimated independently using camera-trap-based mark–recapture methods, was 12–14. Based on our results we identify the Tost Local Protected Area as an important habitat for the conservation of these ungulates and their predator, the Endangered snow leopard, and recommend elevation of its status to a Nature Reserve.

野生猎物的可获得性是食肉动物种群密度的关键预测因子。然而，鲜有保护项目聚焦于野生有蹄类动物（wild ungulate）种群及其动态的评估与监测，尤其是在中亚偏远山区。本研究于蒙古国南戈壁省托斯特地方保护区的山地区域开展双观察者调查（double-observer surveys），以评估西伯利亚北山羊（ibex, Capra sibirica）和盘羊（argali, Ovis ammon）的种群数量——该区域目前正被考虑升格为国家级自然保护区。2012至2013年间，我们还针对数量更为丰富的西伯利亚北山羊开展了种群统计学调查，以考察其性比与幼崽存活率。结果显示，2012至2013年西伯利亚北山羊的种群数量保持稳定，而盘羊的估算种群数量则从2012年的108只增长至2013年的230只。野生有蹄类动物的总生物量约为当地家畜的6%。西伯利亚北山羊的幼崽死亡率在12月龄断奶后似乎有所上升。本研究估算，该区域的野生有蹄类种群足以支撑14至18只成年雪豹（Panthera uncia）。2012至2013年间，通过基于相机陷阱的标记-重捕法（mark–recapture methods）独立估算得到的研究区域内成年雪豹种群数量为12至14只。基于上述研究结果，我们认定托斯特地方保护区是保护这些有蹄类动物及其天敌——濒危物种雪豹的重要栖息地，并建议将其升格为国家级自然保护区。