Research at Hustai National Park

Research at Hustai * Research Bibliography

Research is crucial to the successful long-term management of Hustai National Park. The national park has three major aims: the long-term conservation of the ecosystem's biodiversity; the establishment of a viable, self-sustaining population of Takhi; and the formation and management of a training and research centre. Research guides the direction and day-to-day administration of these aims.

All information gathered from studies at the park is collected and collated in a geographical information system (GIS)--a system of maps and data which form a multi-dimensional overview of the park. The GIS system was developed and maintained in cooperation with the Central Computer and Information Centre of the Mongolian Ministry for Nature and the Environment.

Currently, the GIS contains maps of geology, hydrology, soil types and vegetation. Research into the quantity of vegetation (phytomass measurements) has been carried out to gain insight into the productivity and seasonal dynamics of the main types of vegetation and to estimate grazing impact and food availability for herbivores. Vegetation specimens have been collected and labeled to form a herbarium.

The nutritional quality of dominant vegetation has been assessed to determine the nutrient value of different fodder species throughout the year, complimenting information on food availability.

The maximum number of animals that can use an area without having a negative influence on the vegetation/soil system is known as the area's carrying capacity. To preserve the long-term viability of Hustai, it is necessary to estimate the park's carrying capacity for each of the dominant herbivores and their predators. As such, the size of home ranges and the vegetation requirements of species such as Takhi, red deer and marmots are monitored carefully.

The most important factor determining the number of Takhi the park can support is their home range size. A Takhi harem's home range is the area they roam in order to find food, water and shelter. Monitoring has shown that so far the park offers sufficient water and food for each released group of Takhi to develop their own, relative stable home range. The home ranges of Takhi harems can overlap at some points (for instance at water sources) but generally they remain separate.

Researchers and rangers conducting fieldwork

To collect data about Takhi home ranges, rangers and researchers make daily observations of their whereabouts. In the weeks following their release, each group of Takhi is carefully followed by its own ranger. The harem's location and preferred vegetation type are recorded along with other data such as weather conditions and Takhi behaviour. All births and deaths are recorded as are fluctuations in harem populations caused when a Takh leaves its harem to join another one. The collected data helps to explain the distribution and habitat selection of the Takhi, and most importantly, their population dynamics. This allows for a prediction of the total number of Takhi that the park can support.

Biologists carry out condition scoring and time budget research regularly in order to check if the Takhi have adapted well to life in the wild after 13 generations in captivity. In order to conduct this research, it is necessary to be able to recognise each individual Takh. Photos and life-history charts are kept for each.

Much of the information about Takhi behaviour is supplemented by ethological research conducted by guest researchers in conjunction with Hustai biologists. Much of this research has been published in international scientific journals, and a brief catalog of published studies is available together with unpublished papers written by Hustai biologists in the research bibliography.

Hustai National Park and MACNE are committed to continuing their role in fostering environmental and conservation research in Mongolia. Anyone interested in pursuing research at Hustai is encouraged to contact MACNE.