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Abstract
The population structure of goitered gazelles was investigated in Kazakhstan over several years. We found that the social organization of goitered gazelle changed over months mostly because of their birthing and rutting behaviour, and seasonal migrations. Female groups were smallest and solitary females were the most numerous during parturition in May and these groups were largest during rutting season in November–December. In contrast, male groups were smallest and solitary males were the most numerous during the rutting period, while during the rest of the year they formed considerably larger groups although male singletons were always common. Mixed-sex groups were typical for spring and autumn migration periods in March–April and in October. The month also influenced the population structure with larger groups more common during cold months and smaller groups frequently observed during hot months, but such impact was not as distinctive as in the case of biological events (birthing, mating and migration). Despite living in northern latitudes, goitered gazelles have a social organisation that is comparable with other gazelle species.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank the Chinese Academy of Sciences for granting our work (Visiting Professorships for Senior International Scientists - 2009Z2-5), the Chinese Academy of Sciences Xi Bu Zhi Guang (LHXZ200701), and SINO-UAE Cooperation Project (0866031) for creating all conditions for writing this paper. We are very grateful to the Institute of Zoology, former Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan, which gave us the opportunity to investigate goitered gazelles in their natural environment over 10 years. Many thanks to the Editor of EEE and to two anonymous reviewers for their suggestions to improve our manuscript.