Article

Galina S. Alekseeva, PhD, Researcher of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the RAS (119071, Russia, Moscow, Leninsky Avenue, 33); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1996-2387; e-mail: gal.ser.alekseeva@gmail.com
Polina S. Klyuchnikova, Principal Engineer of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the RAS (119071, Russia, Moscow, Leninsky Avenue, 33); e-mail: klyuchnikova.polia@yandex.ru
Vadim E. Kirilyuk, PhD, Leading Researcher of the Daursky State Nature Biosphere Reserve (674480, Russia, Zabaikalsky Krai, Ononsky district, Nizhny Tsasuchey, Komsomolskaya Street, 76); Senior Researcher of the Institute of Natural Resources, Ecology and Cryology, Siberian Branch of the RAS (672014, Russia, Zabaikalsky Krai, Chita, Nedorezova Street, 16a); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4769-3804; e-mail: vkiriliuk@bk.ru
Sergey V. Naidenko, Dr. Sc., Professor, Chief Researcher of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the RAS (119071, Russia, Moscow, Leninsky Avenue, 33); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6400-5108; e-mail: snaidenko@mail.ru.

Alekseeva G.S., Klyuchnikova P.S., Kirilyuk V.E., Naidenko S.V. 2022. Body mass of Procarpa gutturosa (Bovidae) calves: influence of climatic conditions and occurrence of pathogens in the group of the Daursky State Nature Reserve (Russia). Nature Conservation Research 7(4): 84–96. https://dx.doi.org/10.24189/ncr.2022.038

Procapra gutturosa (hereinafter – Mongolian gazelle) is one of the last large migratory mammal species in Asia, which population has declined considerably over the past century due to various anthropogenic factors. In Russia, the Mongolian gazelle inhabits the north of its natural range, which supposes suboptimal conditions for this species, and it is listed in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation. The physiological status of its calves was studied in the Daursky State Nature Reserve in 2015–2021 by assessing their body mass and the presence of antibodies to several pathogens. It was found that the body mass of Mongolian gazelle calves averaged from 2.85 kg to 6.14 kg and varied depending on such factors as sex, age and year of data collection. It was also related to climatic conditions, especially during the last third of pregnancy. In addition, Mongolian gazelle individuals were identified, which are seropositive to foot-and-mouth disease and peste des petits ruminants, but not to pasteurellosis and brucellosis. The number of positive reactions to the pathogens varied from year to year. So, the highest number of seropositive individuals was detected in 2018, representing 63.3%. Being still connected with the main range, the Mongolian gazelle group in Russia (surroundings of the Daursky State Nature Reserve) is gradually increasing. The study of animals' physiological condition makes it possible to predict changes in the status of this ungulate group.

body mass, foot-and-mouth disease, Mongolian gazelle, peste des petits ruminants, sex differences, ungulates

Received: 24.03.2022. Revised: 26.08.2022. Accepted: 28.08.2022.

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