Composition of 2018 Monitoring Dataset for

Przewalski gazelle in Qinghai Lake Basin

Qi, D. S.^1,2,3  Sun, J. Q.⁴  Hou, Y. S.⁴  Chen, K. L.^1,2,3  Chen, Z. R.^1,2,3*  Ma, Y. X.^1,2,3

1. Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China;

2. Qinghai Normal University Key Laboratory of Natural Geography and Environmental Processes of Qinghai Province, Xining 810008, China;

3. The Key Laboratory of Surface Process and Ecological Conservation of the Ministry of Education, Qinghai- Tibet Plateau, Xining 810008, China;

4. Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve Administration, Xining 810008, China;

Abstract: The Qinghai Lake Basin (97°50′E–101°20′E, 36°15′N–38°20′N) is an important natural geographic area in the northeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and also provides ecological safety via the “two screens and three districts” in Qinghai Province. The basin is rich in biodiversity and is a gene pool of species on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; it is also a typical area of the plateau ecosystem. This dataset mainly compiles the monitoring data of the endangered species of Przewalski gazelles in 2018 in the basin. During the non-reproductive and mating period, Przewalski gazelles were monitored with the fixed sample point partitioning straight number method. Monoculars and binoculars were used to directly count the individual Przewalski gazelles and to record their behavior seen in the field. If possible, we distinguished between male, female, and young gazelles. At the same time, we recorded the Przewalski gazelle in sample areas and at sample points, including habitat, human interference, fences, drinking water spots, etc.

Keywords: Qinghai Lake Basin; Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; endangered species; Przewalski’s gazelle monitoring

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3974/geodp.2022.02.18

CSTR: https://cstr.escience.org.cn/CSTR:20146.14.2022.02.18

Dataset Availability Statement:

The dataset supporting this paper was published and is accessible through the Digital Journal of Global Change Data Repository at: https://doi.org/10.3974/geodb.2021.10.02.V1 or https://cstr.escience.org.cn/CSTR:20146.11.2021.10.02.V1.

1 Introduction

The Przewalski gazelle (Procapra przewalskii) is an endangered ungulate endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau^[1] and one of the rarest endangered wild animals in the world. It generally lives in the intersecting area of desert and grassland. A desert area with an area of about 203 km² exists near the Qinghai Lake sand Island. The area around Qinghai Lake is uninhabited and has minimal human interference, so it has become a gathering place for Przewalski gazelles^[2]. Monitoring Przewalski gazelles is important for collecting infor­mation on the variations in Przewalski gazelle population and behavior and for subsequent protection^[3].

Qinghai Lake is located in the northeast of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the area around Qinghai Lake is generally called the Qinghai Lake Basin. This area is in the arid region of northwest China at the intersection of the southwest alpine region and the eastern monsoon region. Qinghai Lake plays a pivotal role in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It provides an ecological security barrier for the northeast part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and it is also an important water body in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau ecosystem^[4,5]. Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve is located at the intersection of the two migration paths of waterbirds in Central Asia and East Asia, and its wetland area ranks first in China^[6] . This dataset is based on monitoring samples of waterbirds, vegetation, endangered species, etc., over several years by the Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve Administration.^[7] The monitoring time was from March 2018 to February 2019, during which the Przewalski gazelle was monitored four times. By monitoring Przewalski gazelle (Figure 1, 2), we obtained the population number, population dynamics, population distribution, and population structure^[8]. The monitoring data for the endangered species (Przewalski gazelle) was sorted to form the 2018 Przewalski gazelle monitoring dataset for the Qinghai Lake Basin.

2 Metadata of the Dataset

The metadata of the Procapra Przewalskii dataset collecting from 76 sample sites in Qinghai Lake Basin (2018)^[9] is summarize in Table 1

3 Data Collection

To monitor Przewalski gazelle during the non-reproductive and mating periods (Table 2), we used the fixed sample point partitioning straight number method, and monoculars and binoculars were used to directly count the individual Przewalski gazelles seen in the field of view. A fixed sample was used during the lambing period. The line method for monitoring using monocular and binoculars was used to directly count the individuals and record the behavior of Przewalski gazelles seen on the transect. We distinguished between male, female, and young gazelles if possible and recorded the Przewalski gazelles at sample areas. We sampled at the same spots (Table 3) recording habitats, human interference, fences, drinking water spots, etc.

Przewalski gazelles were monitored at five sub-regions to set up 13 monitoring areas. These 13 monitoring areas cover all the habitats of the Przewalski gazelle in the Qinghai

Table 1  Metadata summary of the Monitoring dataset for Procapra Przewalskii

Lake Basin but do not include the two areas of Cheji and Wahyu in Gonghe county, Hainan prefecture (Table 2). In the 13 monitoring areas, 76 monitoring sample points were fixed (Figure 3), 15 fixed monitoring sample lines were set up, with a total length of 97.97 km, for a total monitoring area of 490.39 km². The monitoring area outside the protection area was 138.42 km², and the monitoring area outside the protection area was 351.97 km² (Table 4).

4 Data Results

4.1 Dataset Composition

This dataset consists of two data files, one Przewalski gazelle sample geographic information system data in .shp format, and 13 worksheet data in one .xls table. The data size is 75.6 KB (compressed into two files of 48.3 KB).

Table 2  Monitoring time and sample area of Przewali’s gazelle population in Qinghai Lake Basin in 2018

4.2 Data Results

4.2.1 Vegetation Types and Biomass in Active Areas of Przewalski’s Gazelle in the Qinghai Lake Basin

Vegetation types and biomass statistics of Przewalski’s gazelle active areas in Qinghai

Table 3  Habitat information of Przewalski’s gazelle observation sites

Lake Basin include warm steppe, achnath­er­um splendens, stipa type, achnatherum sp­le­ndens, sand-fixing grass type in Qinghai, stipa sareptana A. K. Becker var. krylovii, Ca­rex duriuscula subsp. Stenophylloides, Sand- fi­xing grass type in Qinghai, Wh­ea­tg­rass, Warm desert grassland, Stipa breviflora, Sand-fixing grass type in Qinghai, Alpine grassland Stipa purpurea type, War­m desert, Stipa type with, Potentilla glabra Lodd, Stipa type with Potentilla glabra Lodd (Contrast) Upland meadow, Elymus nutans typeCo­ntrol), mountain meadow, Leptospira, etc. Among various vegetation types, the total biomass and edible total biomass were counted (Table 5), including grasses, sedges, legumes, edible miscellaneous grasses, and non-edible poisonous weeds, etc.

The vegetation types of Przewalski’s gazelle active area in Qinghai Lake Basin include alpine grassland and warm steppe type warm desert, among which the available area is more than 95% of the total area (Table 6). Overall, the edible biomass, available biomass and available fresh grass are sufficient. The edible biomass and available biomass and available fresh grass amount of alpine meadow were less than those of warm grassland, which were related to vegetation type, altitude and plant growth cycle. There is a certain subjective influence of animal capacity on the basis of edible biomass, available biomass and available fresh grass, which is related to local nomadic life and economic development of local herdsmen.

Table 4  Setting of Przewalski’s gazelle sample point and line transect

Table 5  Vegetation types and biomass in active areas of Przewalski's gazelle in the Qinghai Lake Basin

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Table 6  Vegetation types and biomass in active areas of Przewalski’s gazelle in the Qinghai Lake Basin

4.2.2 Monitoring Results of Przewalski’s Gazelle Population

Due to the living habits of the Przewalski gazelles, the structure and composition of the population vary over the year. Therefore, according to the living habits of the Przewalski gazelle, the monitoring in 2018 was divided into four periods (Table 7): Monitoring was carried out during the breeding and non-breeding periods of the Przewalski gazelle, lambing period, mating period; that is, during the lambing period in August, when the female antelope is just lambing, and the female antelope and the young gazelle move separately in groups (apart from the males). December is the estrus period and is also the mating period, when the female antelope and the male antelope are active in groups. From early March to late June is the non-reproductive period, when the female antelope and the male antelope are

Table 7  Przewalski’s gazelle population in 2018.

active in groups. The survey of the population of Przewalski gazelles in 2018 counted 2,057 animals in the early non-breeding period, 1,546 in the late period, 2,793 in the lambing period, and 1,743 in the estrus period. The average annual number was 2,035 (Table 8).

Table 8  Statistics of Przewalski’s gazelle structure in 2018

The population structure of the Przewalski gazelle is as follows: for monitoring, the male, female, and young Przewalski gazelles were distinguished. The statistics showed males accounted for 22% (616), females accounted for 52% (1446), and 26% were young gazelle (731) in the overall population structure of Przewalski gazelle. Compared with 2017, the proportion of males increased by 1%, females increased by 1%, and young gazelles rose by 1%. The overall population structure was more reasonable. Ideally, the population structure should be maintained at about 60% compared with females, which still has a certain potential impact on the overall population structure.

Comparing the average values of the data obtained by monitoring four times per year shows that the population remained at 700 from 2011 to 2012, increased from 2013 to 2014 to over 1,000, and from 2016 to 2017 the number further increased to 1,300. From 2017 to 2018 it could be seen an increase of 760 animals for a total of 1,300 animals. This result showed that the population of Przewalski gazelles has been restored in recent years and the protection measures have produced results. In the August 2018 lambing survey, the population of Przewalski gazelles was 2,793, which is the highest number since monitoring began (Figure 4).

5 Discussion and Summary

The monitoring results showed that the population structure of Przewalski gazelles was more reasonable. Males accounted for 22% (616 animals), females 52% (1,446 animals), and young antelopes 26% (731 animals). The proportions of male and female antelopes increased by 1%. In 2018, a total of 2,035 Przewalski gazelles was counted within a monitoring range of 490.39 km² around the lake (excluding Wahyu and Cheji) (average of four monitorings throughout the year). The population of Przewalski gazelles has increased significantly, with an increase of 760 in 2018 compared with 2017, and an increase of 1,287 compared with 748 in 2010，The total increase was nearly threefold over nine years.

The expansion of the habitat area is one likely reason for the increase in the population of the Przewalski gazelle. The habitat area was 437.96 km² before 2016 and is now 490.39 km², expanded by 52.43 km². The expansion of the habitat area is mainly manifested in the three distribution areas of Qinghai Lake Farm, Hargai, and Shadao. The habitat area of Ganzihe, Hudong, and Tianjun has remained stable, while the area of Bird Island has decreased. The habitat area of Hargai, Shadao, and Qinghai Lake farms has expanded, but the corresponding protection measures have not kept up. We therefore recommend the implementation of protective measures such as lowering and removing iron mesh fencein newly expanded habitats and establishing new passageways and drinking-water points. The rise of the water level of Qinghai Lake in the bird island distribution area has led to a reduction of Przewalski gazelle on the bird island, and the shortage of herbivores in winter has led to a decline in the population. In view of these two problems, we recommend the instauration of habitat restoration and supplementary feeding in the winter.

Statistics on interference factors of habitats found that all habitats have different degrees of interference factors. Farming and agricultural production in the Hargey distribution area and road and rail transport are the main interference factors. In the Hudong distribution area, the development of sheep breeding and Yuanzhe tourism activities are the main interference factors, and grazing in other distribution areas is the main interference factor in these areas. Based on the results of this survey combined with the management of protected areas, we select different protection measures for different areas. The choice of measures and the effective management of natural resources in the protected area are inseparable from the production and life of the community. Therefore, when implementing protective measures, we must consider ecological protection and community livelihood development.

Author Contributions

Qi, D. S. and Chen, Z. R. design the dataset development; Chen, K. L., Hou, Y. S., Ma, Y. X. and Wang, X. Y. collected and processed the data; Chen, Z. R., et al. wrote the data paper.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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