Field activities in the Great Gobi B SPA in 2013 · In June, 58 plant samples of various plant species were collected opportunistically within the study area, including four samples

The tale of the horse´s tail, FWF Project 28024231

Field activities in the Great Gobi B SPA in 2013 Martina Burnik Šturm & Petra Kaczensky

October, 2013

Photo: Martina B. Šturm

Field activities in the Great Gobi B SPA, June - September 2013

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Contents

1 New isotope laboratory ................................................................................................... 1

2 Field trips to Mongolia .................................................................................................... 1

3 Plant sampling ................................................................................................................ 2

3.1 Opportunistic plant sampling ................................................................................... 2

3.2 Sampling along an elevation gradient ...................................................................... 4

3.3 Sampling from East to West of the Gobi B SPA ...................................................... 6

3.4 Establishment of monthly plant sampling plot .......................................................... 8

4 Water sampling .............................................................................................................. 8

5 Przewalski´s horse tail hair sampling .............................................................................12

6 Tail hair growth measurements of domestic horses in Gobi B SPA ...............................12

7 Observation of Przewalski´s horse feeding ....................................................................13

8 Presentation of the project at the Takhin Tal camp ........................................................15

9 Additional samples from another part of the Mongolian Gobi .........................................16

10 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................17

11 References ....................................................................................................................17


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1 New isotope laboratory

Due to ongoing technical problems, the cooperation with the national partner, Dr. Micha Horacek at BLT Wieselburg, Lehr- und Forschungszentrum Francisco-Josephinum had to be terminated.

Our samples will now be analyzed in cooperation with PD Dr. Christian Voigt from Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin, Germany (http://www.izw-berlin.de/stable-isotope-analysis.html).

2 Field trips to Mongolia

In 2013 we organized two field trips to Gobi B Strictly Protected Area (from here on SPA):

- in June 2013 by P. Kaczensky, G. Stadler and C. Walzer to collar five Przewalski´s horses to facilitate monitoring. The opportunity was used to collect additional tail samples from the captured Przewalski’s horses as well as some additional plant samples. They also installed a new weather station (see report at: http://www.savethewildhorse.org/media/forschung/1306_ReportTakhinTal.pdf).

- in September 2013 by P. Kaczensky and M. Burnik Šturm to sample selected plant species along an elevation as well as an east-west gradient, familiarize M. B. Šturm with the study area, and finalize ongoing sampling.


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3 Plant sampling

3.1 Opportunistic plant sampling

In June, 58 plant samples of various plant species were collected opportunistically within the study area, including four samples of hay, which was used to feed the Przewalski’s horses in the adaptation enclosure during the winter 2012/13 (Tab. 1, Fig. 1).

Figure 1: June plant sampling locations.


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Table 1: Plant samples collected in June, 2013.

Lab. No. Name Date YCO XCO Elevation Plant species

13-058 Hay sample 1 06.6.2013 45.53879 93.65163 Hay 1

13-059 Hay sample 2 06.6.2013 45.53879 93.65163 Hay 2

13-060 Hay sample 3 06.6.2013 45.53879 93.65163 Hay 3

13-061 Hay sample 4 06.6.2013 45.53879 93.65163 Hay 4

13-062 Veg 1 05.6.2013 45.32237 93.58425 1,559 Stipo glareosae

13-063 Veg 1 05.6.2013 45.32237 93.58425 1,559 Anabasis brevifolia

13-064 Veg 1 05.6.2013 45.32237 93.58425 1,559 Allium mongolicum

13-065 Veg 1 05.6.2013 45.32237 93.58425 1,559 Eurotia

13-066 Veg 1 05.6.2013 45.32237 93.58425 1,559 Caragana leucophloea

13-067 Veg 1 05.6.2013 45.32237 93.58425 1,559 Ajanija

13-068 Veg 1 05.6.2013 45.32237 93.58425 1,559 Zygophyllum neglectum & Z. Pterocarpum

13-069 Veg 2 05.6.2013 45.38692 93.61458 1,565 Reaumuria soongorica

13-070 Veg 2 05.6.2013 45.38692 93.61458 1,565 Haloxylon ammodendrum


13-072 Veg 3 06.6.2013 45.57569 93.48994 1,673 Ajania/Artemisia

13-073 Veg 3 06.6.2013 45.57569 93.48994 1,673 Anabasis brevifolia

13-074 Veg 3 06.6.2013 45.57569 93.48994 1,673 Eurotia

13-075 Veg 3 06.6.2013 45.57569 93.48994 1,673 Caragana leucophloea


13-077 Shirin us 08.6.2013 45.58680 93.44181 Achnatherum splandens

13-078 Shirin us 08.6.2013 45.58680 93.44181 Grass

13-079 Shirin us 08.6.2013 45.58680 93.44181 Grass sample 2

13-080 Shirin us 08.6.2013 45.58680 93.44181 Reed

13-081 Enclosure TT 09.6.2013 45.53879 93.65163 Zygophyllum neglectum & Z. Pterocarpum

13-082 Enclosure TT 09.6.2013 45.53879 93.65163 Artemisia spec.

13-083 Enclosure TT 09.6.2013 45.53879 93.65163 Achnatherum splandens

13-084 Enclosure TT 09.6.2013 45.53879 93.65163 Artemisia spec.

13-085 Enclosure TT 09.6.2013 45.53879 93.65163 Allium mongolicum

13-086 Enclosure TT 09.6.2013 45.53879 93.65163 Caragana leucophloea

13-087 Enclosure TT 09.6.2013 45.53879 93.65163 Ajania/Artemisia

13-088 Enclosure TT 09.6.2013 45.53879 93.65163 Eurotia

13-089 Enclosure TT 09.6.2013 45.53879 93.65163 Stipo glareosae

13-090 Gehege 09.6.2013 45.53879 93.65163 grass along dry riverbed

13-091 Veg 6 10.6.2013 45.50663 92.74463 1,337 Ephedra


13-093 Veg 6 10.6.2013 45.50663 92.74463 1,337 Eurotia

13-094 Veg 6 10.6.2013 45.50663 92.74463 1,337 Artemisia spec.


13-096 Veg 7 10.6.2013 45.35075 93.18015 1,409 Haloxylon ammodendrum

13-097 Veg 7 10.6.2013 45.35075 93.18015 1,409 Achnatherum splandens

13-098 Veg 7 10.6.2013 45.35075 93.18015 1,409 Reaumuria soongorica

13-099 Toodog 11.6.2013 45.20050 93.47908 Stipo glareosae

13-100 Toodog 11.6.2013 45.20050 93.47908 Grass sample (sedges?)

13-101 Toodog 11.6.2013 45.20050 93.47908 Achnatherum splandens

13-102 Toodog 11.6.2013 45.20050 93.47908 Haloxylon ammodendrum

13-103 Toodog 11.6.2013 45.20050 93.47908 Eurotia

13-104 Toodog 11.6.2013 45.20050 93.47908 Anabasis brevifolia

13-105 Toodog 11.6.2013 45.20050 93.47908 Zygophyllum neglectum & Z. Pterocarpum

13-106 Toodog 11.6.2013 45.20050 93.47908 Allium mongolicum

13-107 Toodog 11.6.2013 45.20050 93.47908 Caragana leucophloea

13-108 Toodog 11.6.2013 45.20050 93.47908 Artemisia spec.

13-109 Toodog 11.6.2013 45.20050 93.47908 Reaumuria soongorica

13-110 Stallion capture 10.6.2013 45.49253 92.54910 1,239 Haloxylon ammodendrum

13-111 Stallion capture 10.6.2013 45.49253 92.54910 1,239 Zygophyllum neglectum & Z. Pterocarpum

13-112 Stallion capture 10.6.2013 45.49253 92.54910 1,239 Reaumuria soongorica

13-113 Takhi us 10.6.2013 45.48184 92.51429 Grass mix

13-114 Takhi us 10.6.2013 45.48184 92.51429 Reed

13-115 Guntamag 13.6.2013 45.25739 93.68456 Grass


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3.2 Sampling along an elevation gradient

To check the potential effect of elevation on the isotopic ratio of plants, we sampled Stipa sp. (Fig. 2) and Artemisia sp. (Fig. 3) along an elevation gradient at 100 meter steps between 1400 and 2800 m above sea level (Fig. 4). Where available, mixed grass samples were also collected, especially at sampling points where Stipa was not present. For Stipa as well as Artemisia, various species were collected since different species are present at different elevations (e.g., in lowlands Artemisia had blossomed and was very dry at the time of sampling whereas in highlands it was present as a low green to gray-green flowerless plant). In total, 14 Artemisia sp., 11 Stipa sp. and 12 mixed grass samples were collected (Tab. 2).

Figure 2: Stipa sp., non-flowering (left) and flowering (right) variant.

Figure 3: Post blossoming Artemisia sp., in the lowlands (with Desert Wheatear flying by).


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Table 2: Plant samples taken along the elevation gradient.

Lab. No. Date YCO XCO Elevation (m) Plant species

13-125 7.9.2013 45.35553 93.21422 1,400 Grass mix

13-122 7.9.2013 45.41866 93.39336 1,500 Artemisia sp.

13-123 7.9.2013 45.41866 93.39336 1,500 Stipa sp.

13-120 7.9.2013 45.47862 93.54037 1,600 Artemisia sp.

13-121 7.9.2013 45.47862 93.54037 1,600 Stipa sp.

13-187 13.9.2013 45.54400 93.66293 1,700 Artemisia sp.

13-188 13.9.2013 45.54400 93.66293 1,700 Stipa sp.

13-124 8.9.2013 45.56770 93.80563 1,800 Stipa sp.

13-126 8.9.2013 45.56770 93.80563 1,800 Artemisia sp.

13-127 8.9.2013 45.57189 93.82685 1,833 Grass mix

13-128 8.9.2013 45.58081 93.83692 1,900 Artemisia sp.

13-129 8.9.2013 45.58081 93.83692 1,900 Stipa sp.

13-130 8.9.2013 45.59492 93.94389 1,982 Grass mix

13-131 8.9.2013 45.59637 93.97204 2,060 Stipa sp.

13-132 8.9.2013 45.59637 93.97204 2,060 Grass mix

13-133 8.9.2013 45.59637 93.97204 2,060 Artemisia sp.

13-134 8.9.2013 45.59608 93.97866 2,100 Grass mix

13-135 8.9.2013 45.59608 93.97866 2,100 Stipa sp.

13-136 8.9.2013 45.59608 93.97866 2,100 Artemisia sp.

13-137 8.9.2013 45.59671 93.99376 2,200 Artemisia sp.

13-138 8.9.2013 45.59671 93.99376 2,200 Grass mix

13-139 8.9.2013 45.67502 93.9949 2,300 Stipa sp.

13-140 8.9.2013 45.67502 93.9949 2,300 Artemisia sp.

13-141 8.9.2013 45.67502 93.9949 2,300 Grass mix

13-142 8.9.2013 45.66507 93.99564 2,400 Grass mix

13-143 8.9.2013 45.66507 93.99564 2,400 Artemisia sp.

13-144 8.9.2013 45.65765 93.99572 2,500 Grass mix

13-145 8.9.2013 45.65765 93.99572 2,500 Stipa sp.

13-146 8.9.2013 45.65765 93.99572 2,500 Artemisia sp.

13-147 8.9.2013 45.65046 93.99354 2,600 Artemisia sp.

13-148 8.9.2013 45.65046 93.99354 2,600 Grass mix

13-149 8.9.2013 45.65046 93.99354 2,600 Stipa sp.

13-150 8.9.2013 45.64403 93.99705 2,700 Stipa sp.

13-151 8.9.2013 45.64403 93.99705 2,700 Artemisia sp.

13-152 8.9.2013 45.64403 93.99705 2,700 Grass mix

13-153 8.9.2013 45.62811 94.02464 2,800 Artemisia sp.

13-154 8.9.2013 45.62811 94.02464 2,800 Grass mix


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Figure 4: Plant sampling points along an elevation gradient at 100 m elevation steps from the lowlands into the alpine areas.

3.3 Sampling from East to West of the Gobi B SPA

To check for a potential longitudinal effect on isotope composition, Stipa sp. and Haloxylon ammodendrum (Fig. 5), representing the most important C3 and C4 forage plants in the study area, were collected along an east-west gradient at 10 km steps within the Gobi B SPA (Fig. 6). The sampling was combined with the wildlife monitoring; hence the sampling points were adjusted according to the regular wildlife monitoring route. If the plants were not present at the planned sampling point, the samples were taken as close to the planned coordinates as possible (i.e. EW 8). Sampling point 14 is repeated (southern and northern part of SPA) to obtain both the Stipa and Haloxylon sample, which were not present at the same location. In total, 15 sampling points were selected (Tab. 3).

Figure 5: Non-flowering and flowering Haloxylon ammodendrum.


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Table 3: Plant samples taken from the eastern to the western part of Gobi B SPA.

Lab. No. Name Date YCO XCO Plant species

13-189 EW 1 15.9.2013 45.2740 93.7640 Stipa sp.

13-190 EW 1 15.9.2013 45.2740 93.7640 Haloxylon ammodendrum

13-191 EW 1 15.9.2013 45.2740 93.7640 Artemisia sp.

13-192 EW 2 15.9.2013 45.2950 93.6390 Stipa sp.


13-194 EW 2 15.9.2013 45.2950 93.6390 Artemisia sc.

13-195 EW 3 15.9.2013 45.3160 93.5090 Artemisia sc.

13-196 EW 3 15.9.2013 45.3160 93.5090 Stipa sp.



13-199 EW 4 16.9.2013 45.5122 93.3365 Artemisia sc.

13-200 EW 4 16.9.2013 45.5122 93.3365 Stipa sp.



13-203 EW 6 16.9.2013 45.3367 93.1325 Artemisia sp.

13-204 EW 6 16.9.2013 45.3367 93.1325 Stipa sp.


13-206 EW 8 16.9.2013 45.5124 92.8118 Artemisia sp.

13-207 EW 8 16.9.2013 45.5124 92.8118 Stipa sp.







13-214 EW 14 16.9.2013 45.1687 92.1104 Stipa sp.



For each sampling point and each sample species, small parts from 10 individual plants were collected to minimize the effect of individual variance. Samples were collected in paper envelopes and dried in the field station.


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Figure 6: Plant sampling points spaced at 10 km intervals from East to West within the Gobi B SPA.

3.4 Establishment of monthly plant sampling plot

To account for potential temporal variation in the isotope ratios of our key C4 and C3 food plants we established sampling points where rangers will collect Stipa sp. (coordinates: 45.48700, 93.57800), and Haloxylon ammodendron (a sampling point will be selected by rangers in November 2013), each month.

4 Water sampling

In June and in September, 21 precipitation samples, 37 weekly Bij river samples and 26 water point samples (Fig. 7) were obtained from the rangers (Tabs. 4-6). Altogether, we now have 40 Bij river samples, 75 water point samples, and 28 precipitation (rain, snow) samples, collected from June 2012 to September 2013. Consequently, we stopped any further sampling.


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Table 4: Precipitation samples obtained from the rangers in June and September, 2013.

Lab. No. Id Date XCO YCO Comments

13-001 TT camp 17.10.2012 93.65163 45.53879 Snow

13-002 TT camp 21.10.2012 93.65163 45.53879 Snow

13-003 TT camp 05.11.2012 93.65163 45.53879 Snow

13-004 TT camp 14.11.2012 93.65163 45.53879 Snow

13-005 TT camp 04.12.2012 93.65163 45.53879 Snow

13-006 TT camp 13.12.2012 93.65163 45.53879 Snow

13-007 TT camp 09.01.2013 93.65163 45.53879 Snow

13-008 TT camp 06.02.2013 93.65163 45.53879 Snow

13-009 TT camp 07.02.2013 93.65163 45.53879 Snow

13-010 TT camp 14.02.2013 93.65163 45.53879 Snow

13-011 TT camp 25.02.2013 93.65163 45.53879 Snow

13-012 TT camp 26.02.2013 93.65163 45.53879 Snow

13-013 TT camp 06.03.2013 93.65163 45.53879 Snow

13-014 TT camp 23.03.2013 93.65163 45.53879 Snow

13-015 TT camp 21.04.2013 93.65163 45.53879 Rain

13-016 TT camp 22.04.2013 93.65163 45.53879 Rain

13-155 TT camp 19.6.2013 93.65163 45.53879 Rain

13-156 TT camp 20.6.2013 93.65163 45.53879 Rain

13-157 TT camp 13.7.2013 93.65163 45.53879 Rain

13-158 TT camp 30.7.2013 93.65163 45.53879 Rain

13-159 TT camp 27.8.2013 93.65163 45.53879 Rain


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Table 5: Water samples from River Bij obtained in form the rangers in June and September, 2013.

Lab. No. Date XCO YCO

13-026 07.12.2012 93.75634 45.55622

13-027 14.12.2012 93.75634 45.55622

13-028 21.12.2012 93.75634 45.55622

13-029 28.12.2012 93.75634 45.55622

13-030 04.01.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-031 11.01.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-032 18.01.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-033 25.01.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-034 01.02.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-035 08.02.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-036 15.02.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-037 22.02.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-038 01.03.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-039 08.03.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-040 15.03.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-041 22.03.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-042 29.03.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-043 05.04.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-044 12.04.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-045 19.04.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-046 26.04.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-047 03.05.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-048 10.05.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-049 17.05.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-050 24.05.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-051 31.05.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-052 07.06.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-177 14.6.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-178 21.6.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-179 28.6.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-180 5.7.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-181 12.7.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-182 19.7.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-183 26.7.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-184 2.8.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-185 13.9.2013 93.75634 45.55622

13-186 6.9.2013 93.75634 45.55622


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Table 6: Water point samples obtained from the rangers in June and September, 2013.

Lab. No. Date XCO YCO Real name

13-017 15.04.2013 93.22495 45.35328 Chonin us

13-018 15.04.2013 93.44181 45.58680 Shiiriin us

13-019 16.04.2013 92.36254 45.50712 Bosgo us

13-020 16.04.2013 92.15154 45.15259 Gashuun-2

13-021 17.04.2013 93.27103 45.62225 Ovchuu

13-022 17.04.2013 92.41294 45.18167 Zadgai us

13-023 14.04.2013 93.68456 45.25739 Gun Tamga

13-024 14.04.2013 93.63847 45.12986 Khairkhan Bulag

13-025 14.04.2013 93.71385 45.31341 Gashunn 1

13-160 15.6.2013 93.71385 45.31341 Gashuun 1

13-161 15.6.2013 93.63847 45.12986 Khairkhan Bulag

13-162 16.6.2013 93.22495 45.35328 Chonin us

13-163 18.6.2013 93.44181 45.58680 Shiiriin us

13-164 18.6.2013 92.15154 45.15259 Gashuun-2

13-165 18.6.2013 92.41294 45.18167 Zadgai us

13-166 18.6.2013 92.36254 45.50712 Bosgo us

13-167 12.8.2013 93.71385 45.31341 Gashunn 1

13-168 12.8.2013 93.63847 45.12986 Khairkhan Bulag

13-169 13.8.2013 92.36254 45.50712 Bosgo us

13-170 13.8.2013 92.41294 45.18167 Zadgai us

13-171 13.8.2013 92.15154 45.15259 Gashuun-2

13-172 13.8.2013 92.51429 45.48184 Takhi Us

13-173 13.8.2013 93.22495 45.35328 Chonin us

13-174 15.8.2013 93.44181 45.58680 Shiiriin us

13-175 15.8.2013 93.27103 45.62225 Ovchuu

13-176 16.8.2013 93.68456 45.25739 Gun Tamga

Figure 7: Water points sampled in 2013.


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5 Przewalski´s horse tail hair sampling

During collaring of five Przewalski´s horses in Great Gobi B SPA in June 2013, five tail samples of three mares and two stallions were collected for potential isotope analysis (Tab. 7). The two females, arriving to Takhin Tal from Europe (Doebritzer Heide) were kept in the adaptation enclosure for one year. We expect to observe a significant difference in isotopic fingerprint in their tails after the switch from European to Mongolian feed. While kept in the adaptation enclosure, they were fed with known water and food sources (i.e. drinking water from Bij river and hay during winter time), therefore their tail samples will be used to determine the isotope discrimination factors between feed and body tissues (i.e. tail hair) and draw conclusions on the speed of tail growth.

Table 7: Tail samples of 5 Przewalski´s horses, collected in June, 2013.

6 Tail hair growth measurements of domestic horses in Gobi B SPA

In October, 2012 herder Zaya started to measure the tail hair growth on four of his domestic horses (2 stallions and 2 mares) in Gobi B SPA (Fig. 8). The collected results of the measurements obtained from him in June and September, 2013 show some inconsistencies and need to be verified. Consequently we will start measuring tail hair growth on some additional domestic horses in Mongolia. Currently, tail hair growth of domestic horses is also being measured on a domestic horse in Austria.

For Przewalski´s horses, the tail hair growth will be measured at Smithsonian Zoo, USA. Since we did not find tame Asiatic wild asses for the tail hair growth measurements, the tail hair growth is being measured on African donkeys in Slovenia.

Lab. No. Date Location XCO YCO Sex Age Comment

13-053 07.6.2013 large enclosure 93.63730 45.53254 female 5

born 7.6.2008; Zagana/Tsagaanaa; Erkhes group, origin: Doebritzer Heide; injured

13-054 08.6.2013 near Shirin us 93.34882 45.53807 female 7born 21.5.2006; Saran/Khatan; Bundan group; origin: Gobi

13-055 10.6.2013 near Takhi us 92.54910 45.49253 male 6born 6.9.2007; Oidov (Z274); Chinese stallions, origin: Jimsar

13-056 10.6.2013 near Takhi us 92.54910 45.49253 male 6born 11.5.2007; Khovd (Z262); Chinese stallions, origin: Jimsar

13-057 13.6.2013 near Serun 93.60388 45.58913 female 4born 3.5.2009; Boroo (K3), Erkhes group; origin: Doebritzer Heide


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Figure 8: Herder Zaya measuring the tail hair growth in domestic horses.

7 Observation of Przewalski´s horse feeding

To get a better feeling of Przewalski´s horses feeding habits, Martina B. Šturm observed the five Przewalski´s horses (1 stallion born in Takhin Tal and 4 mares born in European zoos and transported to Takhin Tal in July 2013) inside the adaptation enclosure. Observations were done on six different days between 2 to 3 hours per day. Most of the time, the horses allowed to be approached to a distance of only a few meters which enabled easy observation. When observed from larger distance, the determination of the plant species grazed is more difficult since the sight is often blurred by high plants in front of the muzzle.

All horses were cherry picking Stipa sp. (Fig. 9), which during the observation represented a high portion of all plants consumed. In addition Achnaterum splendens was also heavily grazed inside the enclosure (Fig. 10). Both plants are described as preferred horse feed by Damiran (2005).

Compared to the newly arrived mares, the stallion native to the Gobi also grazed on other plants, such as Ajania fructiculosa, Artiplex sp. and Dontostemon sp. (Fig. 11-13). According to the observations of M. Burnik Sturm the five horses in the enclosure avoid Artemisia sp., which was very dry in lowlands at the time of observation (Fig. 3), as well as Allium (probably A. mongolicum), which was surprisingly common for this time of year.

Figure 9: Przewalski´s horses in the enclosure were highly selecting Stipa sp. as their main forage.


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Figure 10: Przewalski´s horse grazing Achnatherum splendens, heavily grazed inside the enclosure.

Figure 11: Stallion grazing Ajania fructiculosa.

Figure 12: Stallion grazing Artiplex sp.


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Figure 13: Stallion grazing Dontostemon sp.

Outside the enclosure, free-ranging Przewalski´s horses were seen to be grazing Krascheninnikovia ceratoides and Anabasis brevifolia, but no systematic observations were possible due to the rather long flight distances.

Figure 14: Krascheninnikovia ceratoides (left) and blossoming Anabasis brevifolia (right).

8 Presentation of the project at the Takhin Tal cam p

During the two year sample collection for our project (e. g. water, plant, and tail sampling) substantial valuable help was obtained from Mr. Ganbaatar O. and the rangers in the Takhin Tal camp which is highly appreciated. In order to provide feedback and again explain the objectives of the project, a short presentation of the project was given in September for the Takhin Tal team at the camp (Fig. 15).

The presentation was performed in English and kindly translated into Mongolian by Ganbaatar O..


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Figure 15: Project presentation for the rangers in the Takhin Tal camp (Photo: Jana Fritscherova).

9 Additional samples from another part of the Mongo lian Gobi

During khulan collaring work in SE part of Gobi in August/September 2013 P. Kaczensky opportunistically collected 12 plant samples (Table 8) and 21 khulan tail hair samples (Table 5). These samples are potentially available for comparative analysis with the material from Great Gobi B SPA.

Table 8: Plant samples collected in SE Gobi in August/September, 2013.

GPS Label Date Latitude Longitude Elevation Sample

KHULAN 1 23.8.2013 42.76232 107.053737 1034 Stipa sp.

KHULAN 2 24.8.2013 42.955587 106.834246 1150 Stipa sp.

KHULAN 4 24.8.2013 42.918843 106.874595 1169 Stipa sp.

KHULAN 5 24.8.2013 42.909272 106.869766 1186 Stipa sp.

PLANT1 25.8.2013 42.809663 106.860915 1081 grass (likely Stipa)

KHULAN 8 25.8.2013 42.778901 107.143626 1051 Stipa sp.

CAMP 2 28.8.2013 43.460893 109.279363 940 Stipa sp.

KHULAN 16 29.8.2013 43.412717 109.33645 962 Stipa sp.

47 29.8.2013 43.458975 109.333226 949 Stipa sp.

KHULAN 20 30.8.2013 43.292226 109.093939 1122 Stipa sp.

SAX1 30.8.2013 43.254286 107.89943 853 Haloxylon amm.





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Table 9: Khulan tail hair samples collected in SE Gobi in August/September, 2013.

10 Acknowledgements

Special thanks to our Mongolian colleagues O. Ganbaatar, N. Altansukh, L. Oinbayar, G. Nisekhuu, B. Chimbat, Ya. Amgalan, N. Tumor, B. Batsuuri for sample collection. Zaya for measuring tail growth in his domestic horses, N. Enkhsaikhan for taking care of logistics and last but not least to S. Tungalagtuya for feeding us so well! We are also very thankful to A. Haymerle and S. Sušnik for their effort with the tail hair growth measurements in Austria and Slovenia.

11 References

Damiran, D., 2005. Palatability of Mongolian rangeland plants, Eastern Oregon Research Center/Union Station.

Tooth

age

17.08.2013 NA Poached male adult 107.08286 42.80599 recently poached

23.08.2013 34409 Khulan 1 male 2 107.05373 42.76232 live capture


24.08.2013 34408 Khulan 3 female >6 106.78283 42.93926 live capture


24.08.2013 13745 Khulan 5 female 9 106.86977 42.90927 live capture













29.08.2013 13741 Khulan 18 male 10-11 109.27354 43.45523 live capture



YCO CommentDate Animal ID GPS name Sex XCO

Documents

Field activities in the Great Gobi B SPA in 2013 · In June, 58 plant samples of various plant species were collected opportunistically within the study area, including four samples