OVERLAP IN SUMMER HABITATS AND DIETS OF TIBETAN PLATEAU UNGULATES

We investigated general habitat affinities and patterns of dietary overlap during summers 1990-2 among the 7 wild ungulate species that inhabit alpine grasslands in Yeniugou, Qinghai Province, China: Tibetan gazelle (Procapra picticaudata), Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsoni), Tibetan wild ass (Equus kiang), white-lipped deer (Cervus albirostris), wild yak (Poe phagus mutus), blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur), and argali (Ovis ammon). Males and females of both gazelle and antelope used different habitats during summer, though the patterns of sexual segregation were reversed between the species: female gazelles and male antelopes preferred higher elevation habitats, and male gazelles and female antelopes used lower elevation areas. Mesic sedge communities were important for most species; only male gazelles and wild ass avoided them entirely. Gazelles and female antelopes consumed mainly forbs. Stipa spp., despite being widespread and abundant, were significantly selected for only by wild ass. Data suggested, however, that Stipa may replace sedges in importance for at least some ungulate species following the growing season. Data did not allow clear inferences regarding inter-specific competition. Diets of domestic sheep overlapped only minimally with 6 of the 7 wild ungulates during summer, but the possibility that livestock competed with preferred winter forage for wild ungulates could not be examined with data collected.