The danger of having all your eggs in one basket--winter crash of the re-introduced Przewalski's horses in the Mongolian Gobi.

摘要: Large mammals re-introduced into harsh and unpredictable environments are vulnerable to stochastic effects, particularly in times of global climate change. The Mongolian Gobi is home several rare large ungulates such as Przewalski's horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) Asiatic wild asses hemionus), but also a millennium-old semi-nomadic livestock herding culture. The prone inter-annual environmental fluctuations, the winter 2009/2010 was severe. Millions died horse population crashed. We used spatially explicit loss statistics, ranger survey data GPS telemetry provide insight effect catastrophic event on two sympatric equid species light their different space use strategies. Herders around Great B Strictly Protected Area lost average 67% livestock. Snow depth varied locally, resulting losses following an east-west gradient. Herders had few possibilities for evasion, competition available camps high. three ranges, east one west. Losses averaged 60%, differed hugely between Space extremely conservative, groups did not attempt venture beyond known ranges. seemed have suffered by shifting range westwards. The provided textbook example how small confined populations environment fluctuations catastrophes. This highlights need disaster planning local herders, multiple re-introduction sites with dispersed horses, landscape-level approach protected area boundaries allow migratory or nomadic movements asses.