Geology topics

Dorj Usukhjargal

Publications and source records attributed to Dorj Usukhjargal.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2026

Local and landscape-level environmental conditions drive habitat selection across terrestrial mammal species

Aim Animal movements are a fundamental process affecting communities and ecosystems. Quantifying habitat selection across species and habitats is key for understanding how animals respond to environmental change. Currently, we lack comparative studies that examine how habitat selection varies across species traits and landscapes. We aim to quantify global patterns of habitat selection to help understand the fundamental drivers of movement behaviour. Location Global. Time Period Contemporary. Major Taxa Studied Terrestrial mammals. Methods We estimated selection coefficients for terrain ruggedness, vegetation productivity, human population density and distance to roads of individual terrestrial mammals through step-selection analysis of 1344 GPS tracks across 48 species. We quantified intra- and interspecific variation and tested whether selection coefficients were associated with species traits and habitat availability. Results We observe an overall avoidance of roads and areas of high human population density as well as rugged terrain, with a large proportion of individuals selecting for areas of intermediate NDVI. However, we also found large intraspecific variation in habitat selection and show that this variation is predicted by local and landscape-level environmental conditions rather than species traits. Individuals in more remote areas exhibited weaker functional responses to human presence than those in more disturbed areas. Avoidance of rugged terrain is also context-dependent, with stronger avoidance when local ruggedness is high. The only exception to the observed intraspecific variability is consistent species-level responses to road proximity. Main Conclusions Our findings contribute to the understanding of habitat selection by terrestrial mammals, showing that selection is largely shaped by environmental conditions and that animals exhibit high plasticity in their responses. Our results also provide further evidence for the significant impact of roads on animal movement. These insights can help us to understand the potential effects of environmental change on the behaviour of mammal species around the world.

Global Ecology and Biogeography↗

USGS2025

From fences to roads: Changes in barrier behaviour of Mongolian gazelle across different types of linear infrastructure in Mongolia

Poorly designed linear infrastructure can reduce habitat connectivity and be major barriers for migratory wildlife. An important start at effective mitigation is understanding how individuals respond when barriers are encountered. This can be done via comparison of fine- and broad-scale behavioural responses to various anthropogenic barrier types. We classified fine-scale responses of 62 Mongolian gazelles ( Procapra gutturosa ) across different barrier types, seasons and times of day. We also investigated interactions at a broader scale by measuring the length of linear infrastructure traced, interaction duration and crossing success rate. We learned that gazelle behaviour varied according to barrier permeability, and that fences were major obstacles. Gazelles exhibited similar bouncing behaviour when confronted with paved roads as with fences, suggesting paved roads can act as semi-permeable barriers during high traffic volume. Broad-scale movement patterns revealed gazelles travelled considerable distances along fences—averaging 40.2 km, and up to 211.6 km—before moving away or crossing. Long-distance tracing movements can help identify areas with the strongest barrier effect and guide mitigation measures for current and future linear infrastructure. Designing infrastructure and implementing conservation strategies for ungulates in steppe ecosystems will benefit from taking into account behavioural responses at both fine and broad scales.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sci↗

USGS2021

Body size and digestive system shape resource selection by ungulates: A cross-taxa test of the forage maturation hypothesis

The forage maturation hypothesis (FMH) states that energy intake for ungulates is maximised when forage biomass is at intermediate levels. Nevertheless, metabolic allometry and different digestive systems suggest that resource selection should vary across ungulate species. By combining GPS relocations with remotely sensed data on forage characteristics and surface water, we quantified the effect of body size and digestive system in determining movements of 30 populations of hindgut fermenters (equids) and ruminants across biomes. Selection for intermediate forage biomass was negatively related to body size, regardless of digestive system. Selection for proximity to surface water was stronger for equids relative to ruminants, regardless of body size. To be more generalisable, we suggest that the FMH explicitly incorporate contingencies in body size and digestive system, with small-bodied ruminants selecting more strongly for potential energy intake, and hindgut fermenters selecting more strongly for surface water.

Ecology Letters↗