Global regressions of ecological population densities on body mass for mammals and for terrestrial animals as a whole show that local population energy-use is approximately independent of adult body mass—over a body mass range spanning more than 11 orders of magnitude. This independence is represented by the slope of the regressions approximating –0.75, the reciprocal of the way that individual metabolic requirements scale with body mass. The pattern still holds for mammalian primary consumers when the data are broken down by geographic area, by broad habitat-type and by individual community. Slopes for mammalian secondary consumers are also not statistically distinguishable from –0.75. For any given body mass temperate herbivores maintain on average population densities of 1.5 to 2.0 times those of tropical ones, though slopes do not differ. Terrestrial animals of all sizes exhibit approximately the same range of population energy-use values. These results agree with those reported for population energy-budgets. It is suggested that rough independence of body mass and the energy-use of local populations is a widespread rule of animal ecology and community structure.

Interspecific allometry of population density in mammals and other animals: the independence of body mass and population energy‐use

https://www.snowleopardnetwork.org/bibliography/Oli_Biological_Conservation_1994.pdf

Snow leopard Panthera uncia predation of livestock: An assessment of local perceptions in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal

Ecotoxicology has focused almost exclusively on countries and ecosystems in temperate zones. Tropical ecosystems, which combined contain as much as 75% of the global biodiversity, have been neglected. Tropical ecosystems are under increasing threat of development and habitat degradation from population growth and urbanization, agricultural expansion, deforestation, and mining. Some of these activities also lead to the release of toxic substances into the environment. Little research in ecotoxicology has been carried out in tropical environments. Techniques and procedures developed for temperate environments are often applied, even though physical and chemical environmental parameters in the tropics can be very different. Most research has focused on water quality and aquatic toxicology. The regulatory environment also varies among countries. We present a review of the literature on tropical ecotoxicology, with an emphasis on Latin America and the Caribbean. We also address priority areas for immediate research in the tropics. These include large-scale agricultural activities, especially banana, pineapple, and soybean farming, and gold mining with the associated heavy use of mercury. We outline the special issues that must be addressed as the field of tropical ecotoxicology progresses.

https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/etc.5620160111

Tropical ecotoxicology: Status and needs

Persistent organochlorines such as DDT and its metabolites (DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs), chlordane compounds (CHLs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in whole-body homogenates of resident and migratory birds collected from South India. Organochlorine contamination pattern in birds varied depending on their migratory behaviour. Resident birds contained relatively greater concentrations of HCHs (14-8,800 ng/g wet wt) than DDTs and PCBs concentrations. In contrast, migrants exhibited elevated concentrations of PCBs (20-4,400 ng/g wet wt). The sex differences in concentrations and burdens of organochlorines in birds were pronounced, with females containing lower levels than males. Inland piscivores and scavengers accumulated greater concentrations of HCHs and DDTs while coastal piscivores contained comparable or greater amounts of PCBs. Global comparison of organochlorine concentrations indicated that resident birds in India had the highest residues of HCHs and moderate to high residues of DDTs. It is, therefore, proposed that migratory birds wintering in India acquire considerable amounts of HCHs and DDTs. Estimates of hazards associated with organochlorine levels in resident and migratory birds in India suggested that Pond Heron, Little Ringed Plover, and Terek Sandpiper may be at risk from exposure to DDTs.

http://re.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/Accumulation%20Features%20of%20Polychlorinated%20Biphenyls.pdf

Accumulation Features of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Organochlorine Pesticides in Resident and Migratory Birds from South India

http://www.cgrb.org/tissuedb/species_reference/pdf/Musk_Deer/conservation%20status%20and%20causes%20of%20decline%20of%20musk%20deer(moschus%20spp.)%20in%20china.pdf

Conservation status and causes of decline of musk deer (Moschus spp.) in China

Aboriginal hunting in West Nepal with reference to musk deer Moschus moschiferus moschiferus and snow leopard panthera uncia

Summary

Pectoral muscle samples from forty-five individuals representing eighteen species of resident Kenyan raptors of different trophic levels were analysed for the presence of chlorinated hydrocarbon residues. Most raptors from agricultural areas contained residues of DDT metabolites, and many contained dieldrin as well; raptors from non-agricultural areas did not contain detectable levels of any organochlorines. While levels were generally low compared to those reported in populations of temperate latitude birds of prey which have shown decreases in reproductive success attributable to organochlorine pollutants, falcons and accipiters from highly agriculturalized areas such as Nairobi contain residue levels equivalent to those found to affect the reproduction of other raptorial species. It is also suggested that chlorinated hydrocarbon kinetics may not be the same in the tropics as in northern latitudes insofar as terrestrial ecosystems seem to show higher levels than aquatic systems. A permanent programme to monitor organochlorine residues in East African wildlife is recommended.



Resume

Des echantillons de muscles pectoraux de 45 individux representant 18 especes de rapaces du Kenya, des differents niveaux trophiques, ont ete analyses pour detecter la presence de residus d'hydrocarbones-chlores. Des residus de metabolites de DDT autant que le dieldrin ont ete trouves dans la plupart des rapaces des regions agricoles; par contre les rapaces des regions non-agricoles, ne contenaient pas de niveaux detectables d'organochlorures. Les niveaux sont generalement bas compares a ceux observes chez les oiseaux de proie des latitudes temperees; ces populations ont montre recul, dans leur reproduction que I'on peut attribuer aux polluants organo-chlores. Toute fois les faucons et les accipitires des regions fortement agricoles comme celle de Nairobi contiennent des niveaux residuels comparables a ceux que l'on a trouve affectant la reproduction d'autres espices de rapaces. C'est aussi suggere que la cinetique des hydrocarbones-chlores n'est pas necessairement la meme dans les tropiques que dans les latitudes plus nordiques. Les ecosystemes terrestres semblent indiquer des niveaux residuels plus eleves que les ecosystemes marines. Un programme permanent pour evaluer les residus organochlores des oiseaux sauvages des pays de 1'Est Africain est recommande.

A survey of chlorinated hydrocarbon residues in Kenyan birds of prey

Snow leopards are shy and nocturnal, inhabiting high and difficult mountain country. Nevertheless the author, who spent two months in the winter of 1976–77 in the Langu Valley in the Nepalese Himalaya, is convinced that numbers are declining due to over-hunting, a decline in their natural prey, and the increased use of alpine pastures by man and his livestock. Probably none of Nepal's mountain parks harbour snow leopards, and a large sanctuary for them is urgently needed.

/pdf/snow-leopards-in-nepal-48gsabgcik.pdf

Rodney Jackson

Papers

Aboriginal hunting in West Nepal with reference to musk deer Moschus moschiferus moschiferus and snow leopard panthera uncia

A survey of chlorinated hydrocarbon residues in Kenyan birds of prey

Snow Leopards in Nepal