The Wildlife Picture Index (WPI): A tool for monitoring biodiversity in Mongolia by Susan Townsend, Batbayar Galtbalt, & Munkhjargal Myagmar
Wildlife Picture Index (WPI): A tool for monitoring biodiversity in Mongolia NEMO2 & Zoological Society of London in cooperation with UNDP Altay Sayan Project & the Park Administration of Mongolia
Convention on Biological Diversity Goal: To reduce the current rate of loss of biodiversity for 2010 The Wildlife Picture Index will help Mongolia meets its commitment to monitor progress toward this goal
Mongolia: Facing rapid decline in wildlife populations Undergoing rapid social, environmental and economic change Increased illegal hunting and wildlife trade Red List for Mammals, initiated by World Bank, indicates that 79% of large ungulates and 12% of carnivores are listed as threatened with extinction (Clark et al. 2006)
WPI Methodology*: metric for biodiversity Uses geometric mean for biodiversity as recommended by Buckland et al. 2005 Uses trends in occupancy, a surrogate measure of abundance Robust tool to monitor wildlife that accounts for variation in detectability Use of camera trapping technology that is affordable for landscape scale research Developed by world s leading experts led by ZSL and WCS but included WWF, Conservation International, and Flora and Fauna International *Obrien et al. 2010
In order to determine trends in biodiversity, WPI recommends that Camera stations placed systematically within fixed sampling blocks Placed along a gradient from most human influence to least Implemented annually for site based priority setting and management Implemented in different habitats and biological communities
WPI: What is it? Biodiversity based approach for monitoring medium to large terrestrial vertebrates using camera traps
Wildlife Picture Index: Wildlife monitoring using camera trapping 1. Establish a baseline of current biodiversity both inside and outside Protected Areas 2. Measure trends over time (increasing, decreasing or staying the same) 3. Can be used to assess impacts to biodiversity from land use change and other activities
Advantages of this approach Like having 100 trained biologists on site 24 hrs a day all summer Cost effective when compared to similar levels of effort based on cost analysis High initial cost off set by lower costs over time
Scoutguard 550* Trigger time 0.968 s 50 ft sensor range Wide detection width 4-6 month battery range Uses 4 or 8 AA batteries *see www.trailcampro.com for camera reviews
Methods: Camera Preparation & Set Up
Camera station maintenance
Completed to Date 1. Pilot study (Myangan Ugalzat 2009) 2. Illustrated Methods for camera trapping and Draft Monitoring Methods (Mongolian & English) 3. Camera Trapping Workshop by world expert, Tim O brien, Wildlife Conservation Society with over 54 participants at NUM (May 2010) 4. Implementation of WPI at three sites (~20,000 camera trap nights covering over 300 sq km) Summer 2010 5. Other monitoring at each site including avian point counts, small mammal trapping, bat acoustic monitoring and mist netting for birds Summer 2010
Level of effort Location Myangan Ugalzat 2009 Khonin Nuga 2010 Camera stations Area covered 40 40 sq km 910 Number of trap nights 100 100 sq km ~9000 Onon Balj 2010 Myangan Ugalzat 2010 100 100 sq km ~5000 100 100 sq km ~6000 2010 Total 300 300 sq km ~20,000
Myangan Ugalzat NP
Summary 2009 Picture Data site pics events empty Wildlife Livestock & Human In Park 8,155 2,718 972 (0.36) 142 (0.05) 1,588 Buffer Zone 6,255 2,085 1,585 (0.76) 302 (0.15) 121 Number of trap nights: BZ = 561, In Park = 349 Rates of Detecting Wildlife: BZ - 54 per 100 trap nights In park 41 per 100 trap nights
Avian Point Count Grids
Results: Avian Point Count 350 300 d per sq km 250 200 150 100 50 0 GrIA GrIB GrIIA GrIIB
Results: Bat Acoustic Monitoring
Camera Trapping Workshop NUM, UB May 2010
2010 WPI Site Locations
Khonin Nuga Habitat
Khonin Nuga Grid I
Khonin Nuga Lynx lynx
Khonin Nuga Ursus arctos
Khonin Nuga Grid I A3a
Khonin Nuga Sus scrofa
Khonin Nuga Grid I A3a
Khonin Nuga Cervus elaphus
Khonin Nuga Red Deer
Khonin Nuga Red Deer
Khonin Nuga Alces alces
Khonin Nuga Musk Deer
Khonin Nuga Capreolus pygargus
Khonin Nuga Roe Deer
Onon Balj Habitat
Onon Balj Damoiselle Crane & Young
Onon Balj Red Fox
Onon Balj Miscellaneous
Myangan Ugalzat Habitat
Myangan Ugalzat Buffer Zone Ibex
Myangan Ugalzat Buffer Zone Argali
Myangan Ugalzat Grid I Corsac Fox Vulpes corsac
Myangan Ugalzat Core Area Wolves
Myangan Ugalzat Red Fox Vulpes vulpes
Myangan Ugalzat Wild Cat Felis silvestris?
Myangan Ugalzat Grid I Manul
Myangan Ugalzat Core Area Marmot
Myangan Ugalzat Black vulture
Red List Species Species Common Name Red List Status Cervus elaphus Red deer Critically endangered Detected or expected Detected OB & KN Marmota sibirica Siberian marmot Endangered Detected OB Panthera uncia Snow leopard Endangered Not detected (MU only) Ovis ammon Argali sheep Endangered Detected MU Buffer Zone Gazella subgutturosa Goitered gazelle Vulnerable Not detected (MU) Lynx lynx Lynx NT Detected KN Otocolobus manul Manul cat NT Detected MU Canis lupus Wolf NT Detected MU Vulpes corsac Corsac NT Detected MU & OB Vulpes vulpes Red fox NT Detected MU & OB Capra sibirica Siberian ibex NT Detected MU Buffer Zone
Data Analysis 2010 Photographic Data >~450,000 photographs categorized Build occupancy tables for each species for each grid for each site (occupancy estimates) Need multiple years of data for trend analysis Avian Point Counts (Distance Analysis) Mist Netting Small Mammal Trapping Acoustic monitoring for bats
Myangan Ugalzat Community
Working with local community and park rangers
Goals To assess if Protected Areas are functioning to conserve biodiversity in Mongolia To implement a scientifically rigorous long term monitoring program to assess trends in biodiversity for Mongolia To compare with other WPI sites globally To document occupancy & distribution of rare birds and mammals
Future of WPI Implement at other sites in Mongolia Procure long term funding to continue yearly implementation of WPI Develop web interface for public access to data and photographs Use data to answer ecological questions about community structure
Mongolia as Leader in WPI Unparalleled effort in the world Leader in wildlife conservation and biodiversity using the latest technologies Allows Mongolia to show off their wildlife with the rest of the world Allows Mongolia to inspire country pride through images to an increasingly urbanized population Can be implemented by park rangers and local herders with oversight by Mongolian biologists
Logistical support provided by Myangan Ugalzat Park Administration: Khaisdavaa J., Director Galtsog, Park specialist Galbadrakh Ch., Tumurkhuyag D., Barsuren B., Park Rangers Chinbat D., Head of the PA of SPA around Khar Us Lake Munkhtur D., Tsetseg Soum Governor Onon Balj Park Administration: Tsendgombo O., Director Od, Park Specialist Sukhbaatar, Naranbold, Gansukh - Rangers Jamsranjav, Dadal Soum Governor
For logistical and field support WWF Mongolia Programme: UB Office Lkhagvasuren Badamjav, Conservation Director Batkhuyag Baldangombo, Mongolian Programme Manager Dadal Soum Field Office Chinbat Chimeddorj, Field Office Director Davaatsetseg Purevjav, PIU Administrative Officer Onon Balj
For Equipment Procurement and Logistical Support Myangan Ugalzat UNDP Onno van den Heuval, Programme Officer for Biodiversity Conservation Community-based Conservation of Biological Diversity in the Mountain Landscape of Mongolia s Altai Sayan Eco-region Project Batnasan Nyamsuren, National Project Manager Munkhbat Tserendorj, Biodiversity Conservation Officer Suvdchimeg U., Local Coordinator
Support for Khonin Nuga Khonin Nuga Ecological Research Station Michael Muhlenberg, Director / Prof. University of Gottingen Enkhmaa A., Station Manager Enkhtungalag L., Researcher Myagmarsuren D State inspector
Acknowledgements Steppe Forward Program, NUM Gombobaatar Sundev, Professor Wildlife Conservation Society Amanda Fine, Director, Mongolia Program Ochirkhuyag Lkhamjav, GIS Specialist
Acknowledgements OUR CREW: Tamir Mandakh, Team Leader/Biologist Amartuvshin Munkhjargal, Biologist Bayarmaa Purvee, Biologist Batbayar Bold, Ornithologist Sain-Erdene Tumenbayar, Biologist Baldan-Osor Bat-Erdene, Biologist Narantuya Ganbaatar, Intern Altantogtokh Doniddemberel, Intern Munkhdalai Sanjaa, Intern Shirnenbaatar Ganbat, Intern
KhoninNugaCrew
Myangan Ugalzat Crew
Onon Balj Crew 2010
Funded by NEMO2 (Netherlands), The Zoological Society of London & UNDP
Thanks for your attention
Outputs Final Reports distributed to Park Administration, MNET and other interested parties Biodiversity and species richness for 3 sites Occupancy statistics (distribution and abundance) for key species for 3 sites Comparison of biodiversity in different management areas within sites Present findings in peer reviewed venues such as conferences and journals Photographs and camera station results housed at biodiversity database in Mongolia Workshop with Park Administration, NGOs, others in Fall of 2011
Myangan Ugalzat Grid I Argali
Future Funding Resources >2011 National Science Foundation (NSF) Biodiversity Inventories Program (U.S Government) Private Foundation Grants such as Conservation Leadership Program, Whitley Award, People s Trust for Endangered Species, and Wildlife Conservation Network Convention on Biological Diversity s Lifeweb Grant UNESCO s World Heritage National Geographic Grants
Funding to date NEMO2/World Bank funding for logistics and salary support ZSL and UNDP have purchased all equipment including all camera stations SFP/ZSL have provided the use of their vehicles Conservation Leadership Award for a portion of logistical and equipment needs for one site
Mongolia s potential as a conservation leader Relatively intact ecosystems with wildlife species still present Wildlife persists country-wide (not just in Protected Areas) Traditional Mongolian lifestyles and traditions honor nature and wildlife Traditional Mongolian lifestyle is sustainable (low carbon footprint) Low population density not reliant on wildlife