Co-Authors:
Baharav, D., Department of Zoology, The George S. Wise Center for Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
Abstract:
The mountain gazelle, Gazella g. gazella, is relatively abundant in Israel today. During the last 25 years, because of regulations prohibiting hunting of the gazelle, it has become an agricultural pest in certain areas having reached near-extinction some 30 years ago. Intensive field work is presently being conducted in the Ramot Yissakhar area on energy flow and productivity in a mountain gazelle population. An interim summary of the gazelle population structure and its biomass is given. Drive counts to establish age and sex structures of the population, and counts taken from fixed observation sites to establish the general biomass, were taken monthly between November 1971 and November 1972. Mean annual population density in Ramot Yissakhar was 23 individuals per km2. Adult population structure was 81 males per 100 females; there were 53 fawns per 100 females in summer and 32 in winter and 74 yearlings per 100 adult females. Population biomass has been estimated at 389 kg/km2. The gazelle is polygamous and the male holds a territory, at least during the mating season. Fourteen territories with 2–5 females in each, have been counted in the area. Males not holding territories (bachelors) group in herds. Accordingly, there are 20 reproducing males per 100 females. Since bachelor males (61 per 100 females) apparently take no part in the mating process, it is possible that they have no value in the annual production potential of the total population. © 1974 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.