Special Column:Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of IGSNRR, CAS
LUO Ning, GU Jinghe, Areti, CHU Hongjun, CHANG Weili, Caidai
From 1990 to 1994,special surveys of Argali Ovis ammon population were conducted in six representative areas of Xinjiang in combination with the planning of international hunting fields. Three subspecies—O. a. seiresis,O. a.karelini and O. a. dalai lamoe —had been surveyed. The total investigation area is 8 346km2,which occupies about 11 1% of all the Argali distribution area in Xinjiang. 866 individuals are recorded. The number of the female juvenile group occupies 31 9% of the total groups ,the male group 46 4%,and the mixed group 21 7%. According to the statistical results of 75 groups,the average group size of all areas is 8.89(3 95~11 6)head. Of them,the group size of 1~10 head occupies 73.3%,of 11~20 head 17.3%,of 21~30 head 2 7%,of 31~40 head 4%,and of 41~50 head 2 7%. The group size positively relates to population density. The difference of sex ratio (male∶female) is obvious in different areas,ranging from 1∶0 54~1∶3 54. The average is 1∶1.78. The highest Argali density is found in the Altun Mt.,reaching 1 67±0 33 head/ km2. The second is in the Mayil Mt The sum total of Argali in all the survey regions is estimated at 3 832~6 354 head.