Responses of Sunda clouded leopardNeofelis diardipopulation density to anthropogenic disturbance: refining estimates of its conservation status in Sabah

Abstract

Extensive areas of tropical forests have been, and continue to be, disturbed as a result of selective timber extraction. Although such anthropogenic disturbance typically results in the loss of biodiversity, many species persist, and their conservation in production landscapes could be enhanced by a greater understanding of how biodiversity responds to forest management practices. We conducted intensive camera-trap surveys of eight protected forest areas in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, and developed estimates of Sunda clouded leopard Neofelis diardi population density from spatially explicit capture-recapture analyses of detection data to investigate how the species' abundance varies across the landscape and in response to anthropogenic disturbance. Estimates of population density from six forest areas were .-. individuals per  km  . Our study provides the first evidence that the population density of the Sunda clouded leopard is negatively affected by hunting pressure and forest fragmentation, and that among selectively logged forests, time since logging is positively associated with abundance. We argue that these negative anthropogenic impacts could be mitigated with improved logging practices, such as reducing the access of poachers by effective gating and destruction of road access points, and by the deployment of anti-poaching patrols. By calculating a weighted mean population density estimate from estimates developed here and from the literature, and by extrapolating this value to an estimate of current available habitat, we estimate there are  (% posterior interval -,) Sunda clouded leopards in Sabah.

Habitat use of the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in Brazilian Amazon

“…This was not unexpected insofar as greater forest cover was probably associated with higher prey availability (Droz & Pȩkalski, 2001, but see Hearn et al, 2017). Additionally, it has been suggested that the strong preference of ocelots for dense cover might also be related to the avoidance of potential competitors such as the bobcat (Lynx rufus) in South Texas (de Oliveira et al, 2010).…”

Multi‐scale habitat modelling identifies spatial conservation priorities for mainland clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa)

“…Additionally, poaching poses a critical threat to both species. Direct exploitation is particularly high in Laos (Johnson, ), Myanmar (Min, D'Cruze, & Macdonald, ) and Vietnam (Willcox, Tran, Hoang, & Nguyen, ), and poaching has been implicated in decreased abundance and density of N. diardi (Brodie et al., ; Hearn et al., ; Macdonald, Bothwell, et al., ) in the Sunda Islands. Although we recorded poacher presence for core WildCRU sites, these data were unavailable for collaborator surveys.…”

“…Closed‐canopy forests are a primary requirement for this semi‐arboreal species (Cushman et al., ; Sollmann, Linkie, Haidir, & Macdonald, ; Tan et al., ). Conversely, deforestation and subsequent land conversion to large‐scale palm and Acacia plantations have been identified as major threats for both the mainland (Tacconi, ) and Sunda (Cushman et al., ; Hearn et al., ; Hearn, Cushman, Goossens, et al., ; Hearn et al., ; Macdonald, Bothwell, et al., ; Macdonald, Cushman, et al., ) species. Previous studies of N. nebulosa in Bhutan (Penjor et al., ) and of N. diardi in Borneo and Sumatra (Hearn et al, ; Hearn, Cushman, Ross et al., ; Macdonald, Bothwell, et al., ; Macdonald, Cushman, et al., ; Sollmann et al., ) also found positive associations with ridgelines and slope, and negative associations increased with density of human settlements and land use intensity.…”

Predicting connectivity, population size and genetic diversity of Sunda clouded leopards across Sabah, Borneo

“…The Sunda clouded leopard Neofelis diardi is the apex carnivore on the Sundaic islands of Borneo and Sumatra, where it is threatened with extinction (Hearn et al 2015). This felid is charismatic (Macdonald et al 2015), wide-ranging (Hearn et al 2013), and closely associated with forest (Hearn et al 2016(Hearn et al , 2017, and thus serves as a potential flagship species for Bornean wildlife and a useful model with which to develop predictions of connectivity. In the first study to explore patterns of connectivity for the Sunda clouded leopard, Brodie et al (2015) used hierarchical modelling of camera-trap data to assess and identify potential dispersal and corridor routes within a transboundary network of protected areas in Borneo.…”