Characteristics of the three summer pasture sites
| Parameters | Desert steppe (DS) | Typical steppe (S) | Forest steppe (FS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site location | 100° 46’ 29” E; 45° 36’ 18” N |
100° 36’ 54” E; 45° 58’ 4.4” N |
100° 54’ 34.6” E; 46° 33’ 28.3” N |
| Elevation (m) | 1,600 | 1,978 | 2,202 |
| Mean annual temperature (°C) |
5.2 | 1.9 | 0.5 |
| Annual precipitation (mm) |
141.2 | 224.7 | 260.7 |
| Total livestock number (sheep units) | 1,147 | 1,836 | 4,090 |
| Sheep (head)† | 210 | 256 | 806 |
| Cattle and yak (head) | 3 | 30 | 344 |
| Horse (head) | 40 | 20 | 50 |
| Goat (head) | 710 | 1,400 | 967 |
*Values based on monthly weather data for the study period from weather stations located near each site. The monthly weather data were collected from the Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, Mongolia. †Livestock data were collected through personal interviews with local herders in 2015.