Ecology

Snow leopards are apex predators, and they play a key role in maintaining the biodiversity in an ecosystem. "Through population dynamics and trophic cascades, snow leopards are an important indicator of the health of the environment and help regulate the populations of species lower on the food chain". (Shehzad, et al., 2012). Snow leopards are Keystone species as although their numbers are small, they have an impact on the ecosystems), and are also consumers (rely on other food sources to survive).Population dynamics refer to the scientific studies of a population of a species over time  and include age, size of group, distribution and changes over time.

 

Factors influencing the distribution of plant and animal species within the ecosystem include factors such as geography, height from sea level, types of soil, human activity, micro climate, and the prescence of other species of animal from competition and disease. 

The species in the mountainous eco- system we are going to discuss include snow leopards, Blue Sheep, and the Ulmus tree. Snow Leopards prefer to dwell in mountainous regions

Snow Leopards diet consist of goats, wild sheep, rodents hares and gamebirds also preferring to dwell (Snow Leopard Trust, 2015)

Population abundance refers to the amount of a species represented within an ecosystem, and is important as population abundance affects all aspects of the ecosystem. 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 Snow leopard (Panthera, uncia) is the top apex predator over a vast landscape, and has an impact on ecosystems and is required to keep eco-systems healthy or balanced as demonstrated in the trophic cascade table featured in figure 2.  According to Jackson et al (2008) the IUCN estimate that there are only 6500 individual mature snow leopards left within their natural habitat range. Further to this Jackson et al (2008) claim that there has been a 20% decline in snow leapoard population over the duration of the past two decades. This decline can be directly attributed to a decline in key prey species in particular the undulates (bison). The availability of wild prey (undulates) has diminished due to disease, and lack of resources shared with domestic ungulates (limited amounts of grass and hrubs for survival). This lack of population abundance affects the amount of food available for the Snow leopard (not enough food results in a decline in population through death or starvation). The increase of domestic livestock has limited hunting areas for the snow leopard, and increased in predation of domestic animals. This has resulted in “retaliatory killings from pastoralsits”, Jackson et al (2008). Retaliatory killings, increase in domestic undulates and hunting of the snow leopard have an affect and may cause a trophic cascade. When the top apex predator is removed, the amount of prey animals, (blue sheep) increase, the animals consume more food which results in forest or plant destruction. The table below outlines how trophic cascades affect ecosystems, figure 2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Snow leopard Populations vary by countries and are featured in figure 3. 

Distribution of animlas affect each other through predator, prey relationships as the snow leopard consumes the Blue sheep and these wild sheep consume plants within the ecosystem.

The endangered snow leopard is a large felid that is distributed over 1.83 million km2 globally.  the Snow Leopard occupies a natural habitat range within Central Asia, (Lyngdoh et al., 2014), as shown in figure 4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue sheep are consumers which occupy a similar geographical range as to that of the Snow Leopard as shown in figure 5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The distribution of blue sheep can be, as with Snow Leopards, directly linked with the availability of its food source. For example it has been shown that blue sheep prefer to occupy forests of Ulmus glaucescens (Zhensheng et al. 2007) which are small deciduous trees found in river valleys of Central Asia at elevations of 2000-2600m. Through direct observation of the blue sheep’s eating patterns it has been established that the sheep prefer mountain savanna forrests dominated by the Ulmus tree. The feeding habits of the Blue Sheep have been observed in Helen Mountains, China during spring and winter. In Spring it has been found that Blue Sheep consume and have a higher food abundance, are closer to water sources and are able to thrive at a moderate altitude compared to the winter, (Zhou et al, 2007). Blue sheep also have adapted their eyes so they are located on the sides of their heads to maximise their vision, developed awareness for dodging and darting and use camouflage to aid in avoiding predators and being hunted.  

Blue sheep and other herbivores the snow leopard consumes rely on grass and shrubs as their enegy source. Plants are producers (self feeding) that rely on the sun and soil for growth and all these species consume their prey or food until it reaches its carrying capacity. The Snow leopard also consumes the Blue sheep  until the carrying capacity is reached. The carrying capacity affects all populations and once this is met then populations drop an example of this is when the Blue sheep popullation goes up, hits its carrying capacity, it then goes down due to lack of resources such as food and the snow leopard population goes up which decreses the population even more. The snow leopard will then reach its carrying capacit, populations increase until lack of resources decrease the populationwhich is an example of intrarelationships between the species. Figure 6 is a prey graph (population graph of predators and prey over time) which shows an example of a predator prey relationship however for the snow leopard which is a top predator you would expect to see this similar pattern.

Population demographics which include disease reproduction (% of male to female ratios), environmental changes, and populations all have an overall affect on populations of species.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Conservation efforts have been taken into consideration by The Snow Leopard Enterprises (SLE) which have offered people in the Snow leopard region monetary incentives to prohibit the killing of any Snow leopards. Should the people  in the programme stick to this rule then herders receive an annual bonus. SLE also encourages herders families to earn extra money from producing goods such as rugs and slippers, (Snow leopard Trust, 2016).

 

In conclusion to the ecosystem of the Snow Leopard it has been found that distribution of blue sheep, (the food source of the snow leopard), and the food source for the blue sheep all occupy a similar range so it is important that steps are taken to preserve these areas to maintain a balanced ecosystem. Ulmus glaucescens forests should be maintained, and to limit land being used for domestic undulates to ensure the survival of wild blue sheep so the snow leopard has an adequate food source for its survival, and a healthy trophic cascade.. The SLE are helping conserve the Snow Leopard population through monetary incentives to help reduce deaths from hunting by herders.