Abstract Ungulates are famous for large-scale movements in response to local and regional changes in plant productivity. However, it is poorly understood how non-migratory ungulates respond towards shortages in plant availability. In the arid Kunene Region of Namibia, we studied the variation of home ranges and habitat use of gemsbok during a period of severe drought that led to a critical food shortage. We then related the spatiotemporal behaviour of gemsbok to relative plant greenness and local plant productivity, using local Normalized Differenced Vegetation Indices (NDVI) as a proxy, and to satellite images to assess habitat types and topography. Core home range sizes of gemsbok did not vary with decreasing local NDVI values, while total home-ranges increased with decreasing NDVI values. Gemsbok responded to resource fluctuations by using a combination of habitats differing in plant productivity, topography and vegetation cover. Gemsbok increased the number of habitats used when NDVI values decreased. Individuals remained non-migratory even during the period of peak drought. Non-migratory gemsboks are capable of exploiting local resources efficiently by adjusting their habitat use, when facing declining resources and unpredictable food shortages. Our study provides important information on the habitat use of gemsbok for the sustainable management of populations in arid environments.

中文翻译：

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沙漠栖息有蹄类动物对纳米比亚东北部干旱增加的时空反应

摘要 有蹄类动物以响应当地和区域植物生产力变化的大规模运动而闻名。然而，人们对非迁徙有蹄类动物如何应对植物供应短缺的反应知之甚少。在纳米比亚干旱的库内内地区，我们研究了大羚羊在导致严重粮食短缺的严重干旱期间的栖息地变化和栖息地使用情况。然后，我们将大羚羊的时空行为与相对植物绿度和当地植物生产力联系起来，使用当地标准化差异植被指数 (NDVI) 作为代理，并使用卫星图像来评估栖息地类型和地形。大羚羊的核心栖息地大小不随当地 NDVI 值的降低而变化，而总栖息地随着 NDVI 值的降低而增加。大羚羊通过使用植物生产力、地形和植被覆盖不同的栖息地组合来应对资源波动。当 NDVI 值下降时，大羚羊增加了使用的栖息地数量。即使在干旱高峰期，个体仍然不迁徙。当面临资源减少和不可预测的食物短缺时，非迁徙大羚羊能够通过调整栖息地使用来有效利用当地资源。我们的研究提供了关于大羚羊栖息地用于干旱环境中种群可持续管理的重要信息。当面临资源减少和不可预测的食物短缺时，非迁徙大羚羊能够通过调整栖息地使用来有效利用当地资源。我们的研究提供了关于大羚羊栖息地用于干旱环境中种群可持续管理的重要信息。当面临资源减少和不可预测的食物短缺时，非迁徙大羚羊能够通过调整栖息地使用来有效利用当地资源。我们的研究提供了关于大羚羊栖息地用于干旱环境中种群可持续管理的重要信息。