Saigas on the brink: Multidisciplinary analysis of the factors influencing mass mortality events

2018/01/05 by Richard Kock, Mukhit Orynbayev, Sarah Robinson +13 · 1 voice · 1 citation
Medicine · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Viral Infections and Vectors #Vibrio bacteria research studies #Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research

paper · pdf · doi:10.1126/sciadv.aao2314

openalex publication_date 2018/01/05 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

type B, based on multiple strands of evidence. Statistical modeling suggests that there was unusually high relative humidity and temperature in the days leading up to the mortality event; temperature and humidity anomalies were also observed in two previous similar events in the same region. The modeled influence of environmental covariates is consistent with known drivers of hemorrhagic septicemia. Given the saiga population's vulnerability to mass mortality and the likely exacerbation of climate-related and environmental stressors in the future, management of risks to population viability such as poaching and viral livestock disease is urgently needed, as well as robust ongoing veterinary surveillance. A multidisciplinary approach is needed to research mass mortality events under rapid environmental change.

Citations

• The ecology and management of the Saiga antelope in Kazakhstan
• The ERA‐Interim reanalysis: configuration and performance of the data assimilation system
• Understanding predictive information criteria for Bayesian models

Cited by

• Pathogens and planetary change

Discussions

• Une étude publiée en 2018 dans Science Advances estime que les anomalies de température et d’humidité enregistrées cette année-là ont contribué à fragiliser l’espèce, suggérant une forte influence des [bsky, 0 points, 1 comments]