| The releasing area of Przewalski’s horse in Xinjiang locates in the centre part of Eurasia, which belongs to a typical inland arid climate zone, where drought and high temperature occurs at the same time, and water is the key factor related to the survival, population development and dispersion of Przewalski’s horse. So study of water use pattern of Przewalski’s horse is the first priority for the reintroduction project for this species. Therefore, in this study (1) we analyzed the water quality using IC and ICP methods and evaluated the three types of water sources in KNR;(2) we studied water use of Przewalski’s horses by using infrared camera trap method;(3) we analyzed the seasonal variation of mean fecal particle size (MPS) and water content (WC) of Przewalski’s horses by using weighing method and sieve filter method. The main results are as follows:(1) There are three types of water sources in KNR, that is, temporary water source formed by snowmelt and precipitation, the permanent water source formed by shallow fissure water, and artificial water source. Concentrations about18kinds of ion/element(Cl, F, NO33-, NO22-, SO42-, B, Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Zn) were measured, and the results show that, according to water standard of domestic animals, F-、Al、Fe in temporary water source, and Na,SO42-in permanent water source, exceed the standard level seriously. F、SO42-、Na in the three types of water sources exceeded the standard. Generally, the iron/element concentration in temporary water source> in artificial water source> in perpetual water source. During the dry season, the numbers of water sources in KNR are artificial water source> temporary water> perpetual water source. In the three important water sites, Qiaomuxibai and Hongliu are both artificial water sources, and Przewalski’s horses selected Hongliu mostly, but selected Qiaomuxibai least. These results may due to salt content differences between the two water sites, and Przewalski’s horses would prefer to select lower salt water-source. In a word, artificial water source plays a vital role in the survival of released Przewalski’s horses.(2) The MPS of released Przewalski’s horse was significantly higher in spring (3.98±0.08mm) than in summer (3.65±0.05mm). MPS of the stallions was significantly higher than the female horses in the spring, but there were no significant differences in summer and autumn. WC of total horses in spring (73.17±1.05%), summer (70.56±0.99%), and autumn (68.12±0.79%) decreased gradually, but no significant difference was found. WC of stallion was higher than that of the mares in each season, and the difference was significant in the spring. (3) As for water use time and duration of drinking, Przewalski’s horse often drinks during the high temperature of the day, and there is a drink peak between12:00-16:00and a bottom from3:00～7:00; the duration of drink event for horse is0.50to45.99minutes at a time and no significant differences were found between2010(4.67±0.24minutes per time) and2011(5.01±0.23minutes per time). Duration of drink event in the same water-souce was fluctuated in different months in2010, but no signfican difference was found; there were no significant differences about during of drinking time between different water-sources. In dry season, though horses and kulans use the same water sources, but they can lessen interspecific competition and coexist by time niche differentiation.(4) Sympatric kulan has a drink peak between3:00～7:00which happens to be the horse’s drink bottom, and kulan seldom come to water-source for drink during9:00～20:00. The duration of drink event for kulan is5.21±0.29minutes per time in2010and9.40±0.99minutes per time in2010with significant difference. In the same month, duration of drink event for kulan has significant difference from2010to2011. All months except for August in2011, duration of drink event for kulan is much longer than in those of2010, and significant differences were found in June, September and Octomber. Przewalski’s horse came to water sites every1.4to2.7days, which was longer interval than that of pens, but shorter than that of kulan’s. Day frequency of water use per month by horse was negative correlation with the same month precipitation, when rainfall was too low to form temporary water-source.Our study shows that water quality varies in three type water-sources in horses releasing area. Artificial water sources made local wild animal have more water-source to use and plays an important role for them. The seasonal variation of MPS and WC of released horse indicates that they could adapt for arid environment. These results will provide scientific and practical information for successful reintroduction project of Przewalski’s horse in China. |
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