Evaluating the effect of ecological and anthropogenic variables on site use by sympatric large carnivores in Gir protected area, Gujarat, India

Chaudhary, Rohit; Zehra, Nazneen; Musavi, Azra; Khan, Jamal A.

doi:10.2981/wlb.00696

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Our results did not demonstrate spatial and temporal partitioning between both hyena species. Temporal partitioning in activity patterns is thought to facilitate carnivore co-occurrence (Saleni et al, 2007;Hayward & Slotow, 2009;Dr€ oge et al, 2017;Comley et al, 2020), but several studies quantifying temporal overlap between large carnivore species fail to show this temporal partitioning (Chaudhary et al, 2020). Temporal overlap between the two hyena species in central Tuli was high.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co‐occurrence of high densities of brown hyena and spotted hyena in central Tuli, Botswana

2021

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Large carnivore populations are declining worldwide due to anthropogenic causes such as habitat loss and human expansion into wild areas. Competition between large carnivores can exacerbate this decline. While brown hyena Parahyaena brunnea and spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta belong to the same family, they are rarely found in the same area or co-occur at low densities as spotted hyena are known to exclude brown hyena. In Central Tuli, Botswana, however, brown hyena and spotted hyena are both found at high densities. We undertook a camera trap survey in this area to estimate the densities of both species, and to examine temporal overlap and co-detection patterns of brown and spotted hyena. Estimated population densities based on spatial capture-recapture models were 10.5 AE 1.9/100 km 2 for brown hyena and 14.9 AE 2.2/100 km 2 for spotted hyena. These population densities are among the highest reported estimates in southern Africa. Strong temporal overlap was found between brown and spotted hyena, while there was no decrease in detection rate of brown hyena at camera sites where spotted hyena were also detected, which indicates that both hyena species did not tend to avoid encounters. Although both species compete for the same prey, we suggest as possible explanations that prey densities are high and that competition does not significantly negatively impact brown hyena, because brown hyena is a scavenger whereas spotted hyena scavenge and kill prey. With the found high densities of both carnivores, this study adds to the known variation in composition of existing large carnivore communities and suggests testable explanations for these densities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co‐occurrence of high densities of brown hyena and spotted hyena in central Tuli, Botswana

2021

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“…We investigated the habitat use of carnivores by creating generalised linear models (GLMs) (Chatterjee et al, 2020;Chaudhary et al, 2020), using camera trap station-specific carnivore presence or absence (1,0) data, along with continuous covariates (habitat, anthropogenic, and ecological) (Table 1). To model carnivores' habitat use, we standardised all continuous covariates using a z-transformation and reduced multicollinearity by removing highly correlated predictor variables (Spearman rank correlation |r 2 |>0.7) (Nath et al, 2019).…”

Section: Field Sampling Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carnivore Chronicles: Co-occurrence and habitat use in the tropical forest of ManasNational Park, North-East India

Bhatt,

Lyngdoh

2024

JWLS

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Understanding the spatial ecology of carnivores has been challenging due to their secretive habits. Nevertheless, comprehending the relationship of this taxonomic group with environmental, anthropogenic, and ecological factors is critical for effective conservation management. We determined the composition of the carnivore community (small, medium, and large), their co-occurrence patterns, and the factors determining their habitat selection in Manas National Park, North-East India. We photo-captured 37 species, with 24,840 independent records over 11,388 trap nights. We collected 1,130 photographs of five large and medium-sized carnivores and 1,541 photos of 12 small carnivores. Most species pairs (n=59) showed random co-occurrence (independent distribution). A few species pairs (n=19) exhibited positive co-occurrences (no antagonism). Spatial (Pianka) overlap between these pairs was restricted, suggesting that, despite the observed positive co-occurrence patterns, spatial overlap among these species pairs remained limited. For large carnivores, tiger habitat use was influenced positively by large-medium prey and adversely by forest roads; leopards showed a preference for habitats with medium and small prey; and Asiatic black bears utilised habitats with higher elevations, roads, and human settlements. For meso carnivores, clouded leopards exhibited a more significant habitat usage in regions with dense vegetation; dholes and clouded leopards were associated with habitats rich in small prey. For small carnivores, most species preferred habitats with dense vegetation and far from settlements. Our findings highlight the need to protect habitats, mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, and maintain healthy prey populations for the long-term conservation of carnivores in Manas National Park.Carnivores are integral components of mammal communities, and despite their naturally low densities, they often strongly influence other species in the community (Vernes et al. 2021). Their role is pivotal in shaping ecosystems, primarily through their top-down effects on prey species (Glen & Dickman 2005;Terborgh & Estes 2013;Ripple et al. 2014). Additionally, large carnivores can influence the dynamics of mesocarnivores by engaging in intraguild competition, thereby creating diverse food web pathways (Ripple et al. 2013;Suraci et al. 2016). Interspecific competition and resource partitioning have been identified as one of the most critical variables in structuring carnivore communities despite the wide range of factors that might affect carnivore populations (Di Bitetti et al. 2010;May et al. 2008). Thus, the occurrence of a particular species within a given environment results from a delicate trade-off between habitat quality and its ability to effectively compete with other species for resources, thereby directly or indirectly affecting resource access (Araujo & Guisan 2006;Soberón 2007). MacArthur & Levins (1967 suggested that two competitive species can co-exist if their niches differ in at least one or more dimensions. Such nich...

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“…We considered five variables: canopy cover, shrub cover, ground cover, distance from the road edge, and distance from human habitation. Canopy cover, shrub cover, and ground cover were quantified on a 0-100 scale by laying down a kill cantered plot of a 20 m radius (Chaudhary et al 2020). The distance of the kill from the road edge was quantified using a measuring tape, while the distance of the kill from human habitation was quantified by measuring the distance of the nearest house using a laser range finder.…”

Section: Ficus Religiosamentioning

confidence: 99%

Status, Characteristics and Factors Affecting Roadkills on NH64: The Dandi Path, Navsari, Gujarat, India

2023

IJE

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Roads are among the significant threats to the conservation of wild mammals across the globe. In the present study, we assess roadkill, its characteristics, and factors affecting their presence on a stretch of NH-64 of Navsari district. To evaluate roadkills, we monitored the road weekly; whereas to assess the factors affecting road presence, we followed used-unused sampling. A total of 70 roadkills were encountered from a sampling effort of 336 kilometres from October 2021 to March 2022. Reptiles were the most affected taxonomic groups, followed by amphibians and mammals. Among reptiles, the garden lizard was the most killed species, while the common frog and five stripped squirrel were the most killed among amphibians and mammals. Maximum kills happened during March, while maximum kills happened in the agricultural habitat. Shrub cover, ground cover, distance from the road edge, and distance from human habitation affected roadkill positively, while canopy cover was related negatively. The present study will act as a baseline for the future, and help fill the knowledge gap in roadkill studies in a human-dominated landscape.

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Evaluating the effect of ecological and anthropogenic variables on site use by sympatric large carnivores in Gir protected area, Gujarat, India

Cited by 8 publications

References 43 publications

Co‐occurrence of high densities of brown hyena and spotted hyena in central Tuli, Botswana

Co‐occurrence of high densities of brown hyena and spotted hyena in central Tuli, Botswana

Carnivore Chronicles: Co-occurrence and habitat use in the tropical forest of ManasNational Park, North-East India

Status, Characteristics and Factors Affecting Roadkills on NH64: The Dandi Path, Navsari, Gujarat, India

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