Spatial Utilization and Microhabitat Selection of the Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) under Different Livestock Grazing Intensities

Abstract

There is increasing conflict between snow leopards and humans in many protected areas, the main driver of which is the overlap in spatial utilization between snow leopards and livestock. Understanding the spatial utilization and microhabitat selection of snow leopards in areas featuring different levels of livestock grazing is important to better understand and resolve this conflict, but such studies are rare. Here, we conducted line transect and plot surveys in low- and high-grazing-disturbance areas (LGDAs and HGDAs) in Wolong National Reserve, southwestern China. We compared snow leopard spatial utilization and microhabitat characteristics between LGDAs and HGDAs. Results showed that snow leopards had aggregated distribution in both LGDAs and HGDAs, but the distribution of snow leopards in HGDAs was more centralized than in LGDAs. Herb cover and height in LGDAs were greater than in HGDAs. We fit a resource selection function (RSF) that showed that snow leopards preferentially selected higher elevation, smaller basal diameter of shrubs, and lower height of herbs in LGDAs. In contrast, there were no significant microhabitat factors in our snow leopard RSF in HGDAs. Our results indicate that high-intensity grazing tends to reduce the habitat types available to and preferential selectivity of habitat by snow leopards. We recommend that livestock grazing should be controlled to restore the diversity of the alpine ecosystems in Wolong Nature Reserve. Our findings also highlight the need for evaluating the impact of livestock grazing on rare animals in alpine environments (e.g., snow leopard) in other areas facing similar issues.

Free‐ranging livestock affected the spatiotemporal behavior of the endangered snow leopard (Panthera uncia)

“…Accordingly, snow leopards prefer alpine screes (Figure 4 ; Qiao et al, 2017 ; Tang et al, 2017 ); where their distinctive coloration and pattern provide effective camouflage (Ma et al, 2013 ). Most importantly, the limited distribution of large carnivores in high‐elevation areas reduces resource competition (Hong et al, 2021 ). Blue sheep, as the primary food source of snow leopards in the WNNR (Hong et al, 2021 ), influence snow leopards' movement within the same elevation range (Figure S1 ).…”

“…Most importantly, the limited distribution of large carnivores in high‐elevation areas reduces resource competition (Hong et al, 2021 ). Blue sheep, as the primary food source of snow leopards in the WNNR (Hong et al, 2021 ), influence snow leopards' movement within the same elevation range (Figure S1 ). SEM results support the idea that snow leopard activity patterns stem from their preference for blue sheep as wild prey (Figure 5 ), which align with the behavioral response race theory (Sih, 1984 ).…”

“…Not surprisingly, we found a significant negative correlation between yak and snow leopard detection rates, indicating a spatial separation between the two species. Grazing commonly has negative impacts on the occupancy of large carnivores (Gervasi et al, 2015 ; Liu et al, 2022 ; Soofi et al, 2018 ), and grazing tends to reduce available habitat types and habitat selectivity for snow leopards (Hong et al, 2021 ). Moreover, our study revealed a decrease in snow leopard activity during peak yak activity, highlighting the negative effect of free‐ranging livestock on the temporal activity of this large carnivore.…”

“…Numerous studies have focused on ecological networks in forest ecosystems, such as tigers inhabiting the forests of South Asia (Penjor et al, 2019;Thatte et al, 2021). By contrast, our research investigated snow leopards, which inhabit high-altitude regions characterized by lower vegetation coverage and more fragile environments (Hong et al, 2021). Specifically, our study area is a typical alpine canyon region with lower connectivity compared with snow leopard habitats in Sanjiangyuan (Yan et al, 2019).…”

“…On the one hand, livestock indirectly affects large carnivore activities by influencing their primary prey, wild ungulates (Kafley et al, 2019 ). Livestock can negatively impact wild ungulates in various ways, such as increasing the risk of disease transmission and the competition for food, habitat, and other resources (Hong et al, 2021 ; Schieltz & Rubenstein, 2016 ). However, some researchers argue that appropriate grazing can promote vegetation regeneration and improve the quality of edible plants, benefitting wild herbivore survival (Dave & Jhala, 2011 ; Khan, 1995 ).…”