Felids Interactions - Interspecific Conflicts

[Sully]

Not necessarily conflict, but understanding interaction between tigers, leopards, and dholes

Inferring patterns of sympatry among large carnivores in Manas National Park – a prey-rich habitat influenced by anthropogenic disturbances


Abstract:

Inferring the mechanisms that facilitate sympatry amongst large mammalian carni-
vores in anthropogenically altered habitats is critical if conservation initiatives
aimed to recover populations are to be effective. In this study, we assessed the uti-
lization of space, time and prey resources by tigers Panthera tigris, leopards P.
pardus and dholes Cuon alpinus in Manas National Park (MNP), India – a site
where prey densities are not limiting, yet anthropogenic inuences alter the spatial
and temporal behaviour of prey. We use photographic capture data and predator
scats collected over three sampling years (2014–15, 2015– 16 and 2016–17) to
assess patterns of (a) spatial use using a multispecies species occupancy frame-
work, (b) time–activity patterns and overlap between predators and prey using non-
parametric circular kernel-density functions, © ne-scale spatio-temporal behaviour
by comparing time-to-encounters of subsequent events and (d) predator diets by
analysing prey remains in predator scats. Our results highlight that the predators
segregate through ne-scale spatio-temporal avoidance rather than displaying popu-
lation-level changes in space-use, activity patterns or food habits. Overlap in
space-use between tigers and leopards was high and time–activity patterns of the
predators closely matched those of prey, suggesting that predators likely maximize
resource acquisition in this prey-rich environment. Ungulate prey dominated the
diet of predators, resulting in the high dietary overlap. From our results, we infer
patterns of sympatry among large carnivores in the face of anthropogenic inu-
ences and highlight the need to understand interspecic interactions within a com-
munity before initiating conservation actions aimed at recovering these endangered
species. Reply