title: Prey preferences of the snow leopard (Panthera uncia): regional diet specificity holds global significance for conservation.
abstract: The endangered snow leopard is a large felid that is distributed over 1.83 million km(2) globally. Throughout its range it relies on a limited number of prey species in some of the most inhospitable landscapes on the planet where high rates of human persecution exist for both predator and prey. We reviewed 14 published and 11 unpublished studies pertaining to snow leopard diet throughout its range. We calculated prey consumption in terms of frequency of occurrence and biomass consumed based on 1696 analysed scats from throughout the snow leopard's range. Prey biomass consumed was calculated based on the Ackerman's linear correction factor. We identified four distinct physiographic and snow leopard prey type zones, using cluster analysis that had unique prey assemblages and had key prey characteristics which supported snow leopard occurrence there. Levin's index showed the snow leopard had a specialized dietary niche breadth. The main prey of the snow leopard were Siberian ibex (Capra sibrica), blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur), Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus), argali (Ovis ammon) and marmots (Marmota spp). The significantly preferred prey species of snow leopard weighed 55±5 kg, while the preferred prey weight range of snow leopard was 36-76 kg with a significant preference for Siberian ibex and blue sheep. Our meta-analysis identified critical dietary resources for snow leopards throughout their distribution and illustrates the importance of understanding regional variation in species ecology; particularly prey species that have global implications for conservation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lyngdoh
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
authors.forename: Shivam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shrotriya
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
authors.forename: Surendra P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Goyal
authors.affiliation: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
authors.forename: Hayley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.affiliation: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa ; College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, United Kingdom ; Australian Wildlife Conservancy, Nichols Point, Australia ; Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Hayward
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
authors.forename: Bilal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Habib
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018533:Biomass; D049628:Body Size; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004463:Ecology; D056727:Endangered Species; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D045989:Felidae / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008392:Marmota; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011235:Predatory Behavior