Ecology of Ungulates : A Handbook of Species in Eastern Europe and Northern and Central Asia

The knowledge on the ecology of ungulates (orders Perissodactyla and Artiodactyla) inhabiting eastern Europe and northern and central Asia is of special importance for those interested in zoology, ecology, nature conservation, hunting and management. There are 26 species of ungulates 2 oE-169°W within the 22. 4 million km area, between 35-82°N and 20 and they occupy several vegetation zones from arctic deserts to the subtropics. In our opinion, the advancement of science can be retarded and general conclusions will be difficult to make, if the knowledge of the organisms inhabiting one sixth of the world'sland surface, covered by this vast region, is not included. The language barrier, as well as the lack of international accessibility of local publications, makes it difficult to make use of the great volume of scientific information gathered within the territory of the former USSR. The only complete ecological review of ungulates of the Soviet Union, Mammals of the Soviet Union, vol. 1. Ungulates, was published by V. G. Heptner, A. A. Nasimovich, and A. G. Bannikov in 1961 (in Russian, Heptner and Naumov 1961)and 1989(the English translation,Heptner and Naumov 1989). This excellent book does not, however, contain scientific contributions published after 1959. This is unfortunate, because during the foHowing40years,intense and highly qualified research on the ecology and behavior of ungulates was performed. Front Matter....Pages I-XV Introduction....Pages 1-4 Asian Wild Ass, Kulan — Equus hemionus ....Pages 5-14 Wild Boar — Sus scrofa ....Pages 15-37 Musk Deer — Moschus moschiferus ....Pages 39-51 Red Deer — Cervus elaphus ....Pages 53-78 Sika Deer Manchurian — Cervus nippon ....Pages 79-89 Moose — Alces alces ....Pages 91-108 Roe Deer — Capreolus capreolus, C. pygargus ....Pages 109-125 Reindeer — Rangifer tarandus ....Pages 127-155 Goitred Gazelle — Gazella subgutturosa ....Pages 157-169 Saiga Antelope — Saiga tatarica ....Pages 171-186 European Bison Wisent — Bison bonasus ....Pages 187-198 West Caucasian Tur — Capra caucasica ....Pages 199-206 East Caucasian Tur — Capra cylindricornis ....Pages 207-216 Markhor — Capra falconeri ....Pages 217-222 Wild Goat — Capra hircus ....Pages 223-229 Asiatic Ibex — Capra sibirica ....Pages 231-244 Chinese Goral — Naemorhedus caudatus ....Pages 245-254 Musk Ox — Ovibos moschatus ....Pages 255-262 Argali, Asian Wild Sheep, Marco Polo Sheep — Ovis ammon ....Pages 263-276 Mouflon — Ovis aries ....Pages 277-283 Snow Sheep — Ovis nivicola ....Pages 285-298 Urial — Ovis vignei ....Pages 299-309 Chamois — Rupicapra rupicapra ....Pages 311-319 Przewalski’s Horse — Equus caballus ....Pages 321-322 Mongolian Gazelle — Procapra gutturosa ....Pages 323-324 Back Matter....Pages 325-434 This handbook presents an up-to-date review of the ecology and behavior of ungulates inhabiting eastern Europe and northern and central Asia, a vast area covering one sixth of the Earth. It provides detailed descriptions of 26 ungulate species focusing on quantitative data and condensing presentations of the autecology of the species, in order to facilitate comparisons between species, including data from several areas. Each species description includes data on geographical range and variability of body measurements over its range; preferred biotopes and evaluations of limiting factors of the abiotic environment; descriptions of social and territorial behavior; feeding features including lists of used plants; parameters of breeding in different parts of the range; factors of mortality with information on predators, diseases and parasites; and dynamics of numbers and harvesting in all parts of the range