The effects of precipitation history on the kilometric index of Dorcas gazelles

Abstract

Temporally and spatially unpredictable precipitation is one of the main challenges facing wildlife in arid environments. It is therefore expected that precipitation patterns are an important factor determining the distribution of herbivore populations in arid environments. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between precipitation history and Dorcas gazelle kilometric index (KI) in a hyper-arid landscape. There was a significant relationship between Dorcas gazelle KI and precipitation history. Dorcas gazelle KI was significantly higher in areas with more recent rainfall. The lower KI in areas experiencing droughts could be the result of several possibilities such as a reduced carrying capacity, density reduction from animals dispersing to higher quality habitat, and lower survivorship. Our results illustrate the need for conservation efforts in desert areas to take into account the unpredictable nature of precipitation, as some Dorcas gazelle populations may not be able to withstand long durations of drought.