20.500.12556/RUL-167360 Communication behavior of the snow leopard (Panthera uncia) understanding marking-behavior patterns to optimize camera-trapping studies Many carnivores rely on marking behavior for intraspecific communication with potential mates and competitors, using scent and visual markings to advertise their use of a territory and allow potential mates to assess their quality. However, obtaining data on communication behaviors of rare and elusive animals can be challenging. To better understand marking behavior of snow leopard (Panthera uncia), we combined camera-trapping, snow-tracking and transect counts of scrapes in the Altai Mountains, Mongolia, and measured frequencies of communication behaviors in both space and time. Next, we explored if this information could be used to improve the efficiency of snow leopard population monitoring through camera-trapping. Using the combination of all three methods, we detected seven communication behaviors. Most visits at marking sites began with sniffing (recorded at 56.4% visits) before progressing to other behaviors. Urine spraying (17.7% of visits) and scraping (16.8%) were exhibited at significantly more visits than other communication behaviors (flehmen, head/body rubbing, fecal deposition, claw marking). According to the snow-tracking data conducted in optimal habitats, scraping was the most frequent marking behavior with 12.8 scrapes/km, followed by urine marking with 10.5 marks/km. Along 32 transects, we recorded a mean of 8.0 cumulative scrapes/km, with highest marking rates recorded in gorges, which we recommend as prime habitats for deploying camera-traps. Finally, our results suggest that the number of scrapes observed at potential camera-trapping sites represents a good predictor of snow leopard visitation rate. Therefore, this parameter can be used when choosing camera-trapping locations to increase the efficiency of monitoring programs. intraspecific communication monitoring felids carnivores Mongolia komunikacija monitoring mačke zveri Mongolija true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Članek v reviji 2025-02-18 09:16:11 2025-02-18 09:16:18 2025-02-20 03:56:51 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2025 0 0 13 str. iss. 3, art. 32 Vol. 79 Mar. 2025 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno apc 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 599.742.711:591.58(517.9)(045) 1432-0762 10.1007/s00265-025-03574-8 226422019 s00265-025-03574-8.pdf s00265-025-03574-8.pdf 1 226C78AF14FB53598E5F7DAD6EAF1240 1444c985eabfcdd3c8026a002966ef1708b40f8bfb3b7f9ea591a6570f1ec3e0 fef5e971-edcf-11ef-b232-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=199733 RAZ_Krofel_Miha_2025.docx RAZ_Krofel_Miha_2025.docx 1 A0EDA3CDEF54A938024BB9A7AF3B5FBE 811281401186f24a5fd33156ff80fb4bae815444beb3ef1f7a1c185be35df9c5 85b86e38-eea7-11ef-b232-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=199782 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00265-025-03574-8 1 be8c2ab4-edcf-11ef-b232-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=199732 Biotehniška fakulteta 0 0 0