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Factors Affecting Survival and Cause-specific Mortality of Saiga Calves (Saiga tatarica mongolica) in Mongolia

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dc.contributor.advisorTodd K Fuller
dc.contributor.advisorJoel Berger
dc.contributor.authorBayarbaatar, Buuveibaatar
dc.contributor.departmentUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst
dc.contributor.departmentWildlife & Fisheries Conservation
dc.date2023-09-23T03:46:06.000
dc.date.accessioned2024-04-26T21:13:33Z
dc.date.available2012-09-01T00:00:00Z
dc.date.issued2011-01-01
dc.date.submittedSeptember
dc.description.abstractFactors affecting juvenile survival are poorly known in the world’s most northern antelope, the endangered saiga (Saiga tatarica), yet they are fundamental for understanding what drives population change. For saiga neonates monitored in Sharga Nature Reserve, western Mongolia, during 2008–2010, male and single calves were heavier than those of female and twins, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in seasonal and annual survival rate between male and female or singletons and twins. Litter size and birth mass varied among years, and there was a negative relationship between these variables. Multiple regression models suggest that summer precipitation in previous years and spring mean temperature explained inter-annual variations in twinning rate, and mortality was highest during summer. Covariates providing the best model fit included year, litter size, and body weight, suggesting that environmental conditions influence twinning rates and body mass may play a key role in neonate survival rate in the first year. We identified 3 sources of mortality – predation by raptors, foxes (red and corsac, Vulpes vulpes and V. corsac), and lynx (Lynx lynx). Most predation was by raptors, such as golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) and cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus). Our results point to both environmental and biotic factors affecting juvenile survival.
dc.description.degreeMaster of Science (M.S.)
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.7275/2016103
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14394/47571
dc.relation.urlhttps://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1753&context=theses&unstamped=1
dc.source.statuspublished
dc.subjectbirth weight
dc.subjectlitter size
dc.subjectmass
dc.subjectSaiga tatarica mongolica
dc.subjectseason
dc.subjectsex
dc.subjecttwinning rates
dc.subjectPopulation Biology
dc.subjectZoology
dc.titleFactors Affecting Survival and Cause-specific Mortality of Saiga Calves (Saiga tatarica mongolica) in Mongolia
dc.typeopen
dc.typearticle
dc.typethesis
digcom.contributor.authorisAuthorOfPublication|email:buuveibaatar@gmail.com|institution:University of Massachusetts Amherst|Bayarbaatar, Buuveibaatar
digcom.date.embargo2012-09-01T00:00:00-07:00
digcom.identifiertheses/663
digcom.identifier.contextkey2016103
digcom.identifier.submissionpaththeses/663
dspace.entity.typePublication
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