Smith, Chyanne; Jal, Tumursukh; Duuji, Nyam-Ochir; Tumur, Battogtokh; Mull, John (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Mull, John (Weber State University, College of Science; Zoology)
The Darhad Valley, Mongolia, is a sparsely populated area with abundant wildlife and numerous livestock, including: goats, yaks, horses, and sheep. Few studies completed in this location have placed an importance on obtaining baseline species data. To our knowledge, no data have been collected on small mammal diversity, density, and distribution. This study focused on live-trapping small mammals, with an emphasis on rodents, in six locations throughout the Darhad. We aimed to identify species currently present and develop protocols for future work. Captured rodents represented four families: Sciuridae, Arvicolinae, Cricetidae, and Muridae. Common species included striped dwarf hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis), Mongolian silver voles (Alticola semicanus), and Korean field mice (Apodemus peninsulae). Challenges encountered, which must be mitigated in future studies, include: curious humans, resource and waste management, grazing animals, and novel food sources. These studies should also emphasize community composition, range, and presence of ectoparasites, which could transfer zoonotic diseases.