Institut für Biologie der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
Date of this Version
2007
Document Type
Article
Citation
Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei (Halle/Saale) 10 (2007): 189-200.
Abstract
Khur (Equus hemionus khur) is an endangered species for the most part restricted in little Rann of Kutch (India) and surrounding areas. We investigated factors influencing spatial distribution and social organization of khur. The spatial distribution is largely influenced by distribution of food patches and water in this ecosystem. The inter group distances were smaller in resource rich areas in comparison to resource poor areas (p = 0.017). The group sizes are larger in areas having higher productivity (r = 0.85) and rainfall (r = 0.88). Four social units are observed in khur (a) Family group (median = 17), (b) All male group (median = 17), (c) Territorial stallion and (d) displaced stallion. The family group and all male group are very fluid showing fission and fusion in group sizes (CV = 73% to 63% respectively). The maximum home range overlap was between family group and territorial stallion. The territorial stallion defends water sources, productive grassland and scrubland. Khur’s social organization is territorial harem owing to high predictive availability of resources in space and time and mares preference for areas having good resources.
Included in
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Comments
Copyright 2007, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle Wittenberg, Halle (Saale). Used by permission.