Coexistence in multi-use landscape: linking human activities with functional traits of wild mammals in southern India

Abstract

Context Human presence and land-use activities influence habitat use and activity of species. It is crucial to study the ecological and anthropogenic determinants that drive these relationships. Objectives We investigated the effects of land-use change and human presence on the habitat use of seven mammalian species and on their activity patterns. Methods We conducted a camera-trapping survey in Ballari district, India. We deployed camera-traps at 1457 sampling grid cells across Protected Areas (PAs), Reserved Forests (RFs), and adjoining fringe mosaic farmlands (FMFLs). We assessed the influence of 19 covariates related to habitat features, landscape-level human presence, climate, and local-level human presence on species habitat use. We examined the diel activity patterns and activity levels of mammals within different land-use types. Results Four species exhibited a net negative response to increasing human presence, while three species exhibited positive responses. Respectively, proximity to farmlands, and settlements positively influenced habitat use by Panthera pardus, and Lepus nigricollis,. Increasing direct human presence negatively affected Sus scrofa habitat use. Large body-sized species exhibited higher diurnal activity in PA/RF compared to FMFL while smaller-sized (≤ 2.2 kg) species maintained similar activity patterns across land-use types. Generalist meso-predators exhibited more diurnal activity in RF/FMFL. Conclusions Ecological and life history traits were strong predictors of species responses to increasing human presence which favoured smaller and generalist species. These insights into the complex mechanisms through which human activities shape mammal communities are important landscape level perspectives on conservation.