Estimating the population density of Mongolian gazelles <i>Procapra gutturosa</i> by driving long-distance transects. Olson, K., Fuller, T., Schaller, G., Odonkhuu, D., & Murray, M. ORYX, 39:164–169, Institute of Cell, Animal, and Population Biology, Ashworth Labs., West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, United Kingdom, 2005.
abstract   bibtex   
Despite a 75% reduction in the geographic range of Mongolian gazelles Procapra gutturosa over the past 50 years, the species is still recognized as the most numerous large grassland herbivore in Asia. Its actual population size, however, is still disputed, and we therefore estimated its numbers in an 80,000 km2 area in the eastern steppe of Mongolia by driving long-distance (1,200-1,400 km) transect surveys during spring and autumn 2000-2002. Quantitative estimates of gazelle numbers are essential for understanding the causes of changes in the population, and thus devising conservation strategies to assure its long-term viability. Observed herds ranged in size from 1-4,000; among surveys, median herd sizes varied from 14-42. Density estimates varied from 10.7 gazelles km-2 in spring to 11.5 gazelles km-2 in autumn, with total population estimates of 803,820 (483,790-1,330,100 95% confidence interval) and 870,625 (499,432-1,491,278 95% confidence interval), respectively. Confidence limits were wide, and to obtain a coefficient of variation of 20%, transect lengths would need to be extended three- to four-fold. Until more efficient means for conducting population surveys can be implemented, driving long-distance transects, combined with distance analysis, seem to provide the best quantitative estimate of Mongolian gazelle populations. © 2005 FFI.
@ARTICLE{Olson2005,
  author = {Olson, K.A. and Fuller, T.K. and Schaller, G.B. and Odonkhuu, D.
	and Murray, M.G.},
  title = {Estimating the population density of Mongolian gazelles \textit{Procapra
	gutturosa} by driving long-distance transects},
  journal = {ORYX},
  year = {2005},
  volume = {39},
  pages = {164--169},
  abstract = {Despite a 75% reduction in the geographic range of Mongolian gazelles
	\textit{Procapra gutturosa} over the past 50 years, the species is
	still recognized as the most numerous large grassland herbivore in
	Asia. Its actual population size, however, is still disputed, and
	we therefore estimated its numbers in an 80,000 km2 area in the eastern
	steppe of Mongolia by driving long-distance (1,200-1,400 km) transect
	surveys during spring and autumn 2000-2002. Quantitative estimates
	of gazelle numbers are essential for understanding the causes of
	changes in the population, and thus devising conservation strategies
	to assure its long-term viability. Observed herds ranged in size
	from 1-4,000; among surveys, median herd sizes varied from 14-42.
	Density estimates varied from 10.7 gazelles km-2 in spring to 11.5
	gazelles km-2 in autumn, with total population estimates of 803,820
	(483,790-1,330,100 95% confidence interval) and 870,625 (499,432-1,491,278
	95% confidence interval), respectively. Confidence limits were wide,
	and to obtain a coefficient of variation of 20%, transect lengths
	would need to be extended three- to four-fold. Until more efficient
	means for conducting population surveys can be implemented, driving
	long-distance transects, combined with distance analysis, seem to
	provide the best quantitative estimate of Mongolian gazelle populations.
	© 2005 FFI.},
  address = {Institute of Cell, Animal, and Population Biology, Ashworth Labs.,
	West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, United Kingdom},
  comment = {http://www.umass.edu/nrc/pdfs/MG%20pop%20counts.pdf},
  file = {Olsonetal2005.pdf:Olsonetal2005.pdf:PDF},
  keywords = {Density, Distance sampling, Estimate, Gazelles, Line transects, Mongolia,
	Population, Procapra gutturosa},
  owner = {Tiago},
  subdatabase = {distance},
  timestamp = {2007.04.11}
}

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