scholarly journals Temporal partitioning and spatiotemporal avoidance among large carnivores in a human-impacted African landscape

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0256876
Author(s):  
Charlotte E. Searle ◽  
Josephine B. Smit ◽  
Jeremy J. Cusack ◽  
Paolo Strampelli ◽  
Ana Grau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Impacts ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Travel Behaviour ◽  
Sympatric Species ◽  
Large Carnivores ◽  
East African ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Coexistence Mechanisms ◽  
Wild Dog

Africa is home to some of the world’s most functionally diverse guilds of large carnivores. However, they are increasingly under threat from anthropogenic pressures that may exacerbate already intense intra-guild competition. Understanding the coexistence mechanisms employed by these species in human-impacted landscapes could help shed light on some of the more subtle ways in which humans may impact wildlife populations, and inform multi-species conservation planning. We used camera trap data from Tanzania’s Ruaha-Rungwa landscape to explore temporal and spatiotemporal associations between members of an intact East African large carnivore guild, and determine how these varied across gradients of anthropogenic impact and protection. All large carnivores except African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) exhibited predominantly nocturnal road-travel behaviour. Leopard (Panthera pardus) appeared to employ minor temporal avoidance of lion (Panthera leo) in all sites except those where human impacts were highest, suggesting that leopard may have been freed up from avoidance of lion in areas where the dominant competitor was less abundant, or that the need for leopard to avoid humans outweighed the need to avoid sympatric competitors. Lion appeared to modify their activity patterns to avoid humans in the most impacted areas. We also found evidence of avoidance and attraction among large carnivores: lion and spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) followed leopard; leopard avoided lion; spotted hyaena followed lion; and lion avoided spotted hyaena. Our findings suggest that large carnivores in Ruaha-Rungwa employ fine-scale partitioning mechanisms to facilitate coexistence with both sympatric species and humans, and that growing human pressures may interfere with these behaviours.

scholarly journals Catch me if you can: Species interactions and moon illumination effect on mammals of tropical semi-evergreen forest of Manas National Park, Assam, India

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
U.M. Bhatt ◽  
B. Habib ◽  
H.K. Sarma ◽  
S.L. Lyngdoh
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Sympatric Species ◽  
Foraging Efficiency ◽  
Large Prey ◽  
Large Carnivores ◽  
Moon Phase ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Large Carnivore ◽  
Temporal Overlap

AbstractSpecies interaction plays a vital role in structuring communities by stimulating behavioral responses in temporal niche affecting the sympatric associations and prey-predator relationships. We studied relative abundance indices (RAI) and activity patterns of each species, temporal overlap between sympatric species, and effects of moon cycle on predator-prey relationships, through camera-trapping in tropical semi-evergreen forests of Manas National Park. A total of 35 species were photo-captured with 16214 independent records over 7337 trap nights. Overall, relatively high number of photographs was obtained for large herbivores (11 species, n=13669), and low number of photographs were recorded for large carnivores (five species, n=657). Activity periods were classified into four categories: diurnal (day-time), nocturnal (night-time), crepuscular (twilight), and cathemeral (day and night time) of which 52% records were found in diurnal period followed by 37% in nocturnal phase whereas only 11% photographs during twilight. Small carnivores were strictly nocturnal (leopard cat and civets) or diurnal (yellow-throated marten and mongooses); whereas large carnivores were cathemeral (tiger, leopard, clouded leopard and Asiatic black bear). Analysis of activity patterns throughout the 24-h cycle revealed a high degree of temporal overlap (>60%) among most of the sympatric species; however, differences in the activity peaks were found between most of the species pairs. Moon phase was classified according to the percentage of visible moon surface as new (0-25%), waxing (25-50%), waning (50-75%) and full moon (75-100%). Moon phase did not have any correlation with activity of large carnivore and large prey. The large carnivore followed the feed and starve pattern of cyclic activity. The activity of small carnivore was influenced negatively by moonlight (partial correlation r = −0.221, p<0.01). The result suggests that large carnivores were active non-differentially across moon phases; however, small carnivores showed significantly high activity in darker nights. These patterns indicate that small predators may differ their activity temporally as an anti-predator strategy or otherwise to increase their foraging efficiency.

At Nature's Edge

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Impacts ◽  
Military Bases ◽  
East African ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The Road ◽  
European Experience ◽  
The Everyday ◽  
Long Time ◽  
The Indian Ocean ◽  
The Many

In an epoch when environmental issues make the headlines, this is a work that goes beyond the everyday. Ecologies as diverse as the Himalayas and the Indian Ocean coast, the Negev desert and the former military bases of Vietnam, or the Namib desert and the east African savannah all have in common a long-time human presence and the many ways people have modified nature. With research in six Asian and African countries, the authors come together to ask how and why human impacts on nature have grown in scale and pace from a long pre-history. The chapters in this volume illumine specific patterns and responses across time, going beyond an overt centring of the European experience. The tapestry of life and the human reshaping of environments evoke both concern and hope, making it vital to understand when, why, and how we came to this particular turn in the road. Eschewing easy labels and questioning eurocentrism in today’s climate vocabulary, this is a volume that will stimulate rethinking among scholars and citizens alike.

scholarly journals Analysing the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on everyday travel behaviour in Germany and potential implications for future travel patterns

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Viktoriya Kolarova ◽  
Christine Eisenmann ◽  
Claudia Nobis ◽  
Christian Winkler ◽  
Barbara Lenz
Keyword(s):  
Public Transport ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Travel Behaviour ◽  
German Population ◽  
Travel Patterns ◽  
Home Office ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction The global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is having a great impact on all areas of the everyday life, including travel behaviour. Various measures that focus on restricting social contacts have been implemented in order to reduce the spread of the virus. Understanding how daily activities and travel behaviour change during such global crisis and the reasons behind is crucial for developing suitable strategies for similar future events and analysing potential mid- and long-term impacts. Methods In order to provide empirical insights into changes in travel behaviour during the first Coronavirus-related lockdown in 2020 for Germany, an online survey with a relative representative sample for the German population was conducted a week after the start of the nationwide contact ban. The data was analysed performing descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. Results and Discussion The results suggest in general an increase in car use and decrease in public transport use as well as more negative perception of public transport as a transport alternative during the pandemic. Regarding activity-related travel patterns, the findings show firstly, that the majority of people go less frequent shopping; simultaneously, an increase in online shopping can be seen and characteristics of this group were analysed. Secondly, half of the adult population still left their home for leisure or to run errands; young adults were more active than all other age groups. Thirdly, the majority of the working population still went to work; one out of four people worked in home-office. Lastly, potential implications for travel behaviour and activity patterns as well as policy measures are discussed.

scholarly journals Temporal refuges differ between anthropogenic and natural top down pressures in a subordinate carnivore

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rumaan Malhotra ◽  
Samantha Lima ◽  
Nyeema C. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Human Impacts ◽  
Temporal Response ◽  
Apex Predators ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Multiple Camera ◽  
Disturbed Systems ◽  
Food Subsidies ◽  
Predator Guild ◽  
Fear Effects

ABSTRACTApex predators structure communities through consumptive and non-consumptive pathways. In the carnivore guild, this can result in a within-guild cascade through the suppression of mesocarnivores. As the top-down influences of apex predators wane due to human-driven declines, landscape level anthropogenic pressures are rising. Human impacts can be analogous to apex predators in that humans can drive increased mortality in both prey species and carnivores, and impact communities through indirect fear effects and food subsidies. Here, we evaluate whether anthropogenic top-down pressures can structure communities in a similar manner as apex predators in shaping the interactions of mesocarnivores. Specifically, we expect anthropogenic forces to induce comparable effects as occurrence of apex predators in driving spatiotemporal partitioning between two mesocarnivores. Using multiple camera-trap surveys, we compared the temporal response of a small carnivore, the raccoon (Procyon lotor), to the larger coyote (Canis latrans) at four sites across Michigan that represented opposing gradients of pressure from humans and apex predators. Contrary to our expectations, we found that raccoons shifted their activity pattern in response to coyotes at sites with higher anthropogenic pressures and exhibited no temporal response at sites with apex predators. Temporal shifts were characterized by raccoons being more diurnal in areas of high coyote activity. We conclude that despite superficial similarities, anthropogenic forces do not replace the function of native apex predators in structuring the mesocarnivore guild. As such, an intact and functioning native predator guild remains necessary to preserve spatiotemporal community structure, in natural and disturbed systems alike.

scholarly journals Locomotor activity patterns of captive East African root rats,Tachyoryctes splendens(Rodentia: Spalacidae), from Tanzania, East Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 1393-1400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jestina Venance Katandukila ◽  
Nigel Charles Bennett ◽  
Christian Timothy Chimimba ◽  
Christoper Guy Faulkes ◽  
Maria Kathleen Oosthuizen
Keyword(s):  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
East Africa ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
East African

Reproductive synchrony of three sympatric species of wobbegong shark (genus Orectolobus) in New South Wales, Australia: reproductive parameter estimates necessary for population modelling

2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlie Huveneers ◽  
Terence I. Walker ◽  
Nicholas M. Otway ◽  
Robert G. Harcourt
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Sympatric Species ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Reproductive Parameters ◽  
Population Modelling ◽  
Male Population ◽  
Total Length ◽  
South Wales

Reproductive parameters of three closely-related sympatric species of wobbegong (Orectolobus ornatus, O. maculatus and O. halei) off New South Wales (NSW) were investigated to contribute to a biological basis for the management of a commercial fishery targeting wobbegongs. Estimates of the onset of maturity based on ovary condition were 729 mm, 1117 mm, and 1591 mm total length (TL) for O. ornatus, O. maculatus and O. halei respectively. The length at which 50% of the male population is mature based on clasper calcification was 803 mm, 1282 mm and 1784 mm TL for O. ornatus, O. maculatus and O. halei, respectively, and was similar to female onset of maturity based on uterus condition and to TL-at-maternity. These species of wobbegong had synchronous, triennial reproductive cycles. Follicles took 2 years to enlarge before ovulation. During the first year, follicles remained small, and then grew rapidly during the second year before ovulation during November. Gestation lasted ~10–11 months and parturition occurred during September–October. Mean litter sizes were nine (s.e. 0.5) and 21 (s.e. 1.5) for O. ornatus and O. maculatus, respectively, and increased with female total length in O. ornatus. Pregnant O. ornatus and O. maculatus were frequently caught in northern NSW and no pregnant wobbegongs, or females with large, yolky follicles were captured south of Sydney. Differences in the reproductive conditions of wobbegongs caught in northern and central NSW suggested geographically dependent reproductive behaviour. Knowledge of the reproductive parameters provided in this paper is necessary for adequate fisheries management and species conservation assessments.

scholarly journals Do conservation strategies that increase tiger populations have consequences for other wild carnivores like leopards?

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ujjwal Kumar ◽  
Neha Awasthi ◽  
Qamar Qureshi ◽  
Yadvendradev Jhala
Keyword(s):  
Species Conservation ◽  
Camera Trap ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Spatially Explicit ◽  
Large Carnivores ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Large Carnivore ◽  
Positive Growth ◽  
Capture Recapture ◽  
Very High

Abstract Most large carnivore populations are declining across their global range except in some well managed protected areas (PA’s). Investments for conserving charismatic apex carnivores are often justified due to their umbrella effect on biodiversity. We evaluate population trends of two large sympatric carnivores, the tiger and leopard through spatially-explicit-capture-recapture models from camera trap data in Kanha PA, India, from 2011 to 2016. Our results show that the overall density (100 km−2) of tigers ranged between 4.82 ± 0.33 to 5.21 ± 0.55SE and of leopards between 6.63 ± 0.71 to 8.64 ± 0.75SE, with no detectable trends at the PA scale. When evaluated at the catchment scale, Banjar catchment that had higher prey density and higher conservation investments, recorded significant growth of both carnivores. While Halon catchment, that had lower prey and conservation investments, populations of both carnivores remained stable. Sex ratio of both carnivores was female biased. As is typical with large carnivores, movement parameter sigma (an index for range size), was larger for males than for females. However, sigma was surprisingly similar for the same genders in both carnivores. At home-range scale, leopards achieved high densities and positive growth rates in areas that had low, medium or declining tiger density. Our results suggest that umbrella-species conservation value of tigers is likely to be compromised at very high densities and therefore should not be artificially inflated through targeted management.

Social landscape of the night parrot in western Queensland, Australia

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen T. Garnett ◽  
Mark Kleinschmidt ◽  
Micha V. Jackson ◽  
Kerstin K. Zander ◽  
Stephen A. Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Collaborative Management ◽  
Property Management ◽  
Social Landscape ◽  
Wild Dog ◽  
High Level ◽  
Wild Dogs

The attitudes of the owners or managers of properties potentially supporting populations of night parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis) in western Queensland, Australia, were explored using interviews to understand whether they would be sympathetic to the species’ conservation. Eighteen interviews were carried out by a former member of the local grazing community and found a high level of support for conservation, especially if it did not unduly disrupt existing grazing management practices and there was compensation in the event property management needed to change. This included trying to limit burning and not overgrazing habitat in which the parrot might occur. It also included the cessation of wild dog baiting, which is conducted to reduce calf losses, although concern about wild dogs was deeply entrenched. While some graziers were indifferent, none were openly antagonistic to parrot conservation that might involve their property. The results suggest that collaborative management with local graziers can contribute substantially to conservation of the night parrot in the region and any fears that graziers might be antagonistic to night parrot conservation are ill-founded.

scholarly journals Effects of human impacts on habitat use, activity patterns and ecological relationships among medium and small felids of the Atlantic Forest

PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. e0200806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Cruz ◽  
María Eugenia Iezzi ◽  
Carlos De Angelo ◽  
Diego Varela ◽  
Mario S. Di Bitetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Human Impacts ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Ecological Relationships

scholarly journals The reintroduction of large carnivores to the Eastern Cape, South Africa: an assessment

Oryx ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matt W. Hayward ◽  
Graham I. H. Kerley ◽  
John Adendorff ◽  
Lucius C. Moolman ◽  
John O'Brien ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Integrity ◽  
Large Carnivores ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Founder Population ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Acinonyx Jubatus ◽  
Top Predators ◽  
African Wild Dog ◽  
Wild Dog ◽  
Large Predators

AbstractRecently, conservation estate in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province has increased 10-fold resulting in large predators being increasingly reintroduced to restore ecological integrity and maximize tourism. We describe the reintroductions of large carnivores (>10 kg) that have occurred in the Eastern Cape and use various criteria to assess their success. Lion Panthera leo reintroduction has been highly successful with a population of 56 currently extant in the region and problems of overpopulation arising. The African wild dog Lycaon pictus population has increased to 24 from a founder population of 11. Preliminary results for spotted hyaenas Crocuta crocuta also indicate success. Wild populations of leopards Panthera pardus exist on several reserves and have been supplemented by translocated individuals, although deaths of known individuals have occurred and no estimate of reproduction is available. Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus reintroduction has also been less successful with 36 individuals reintroduced and 23 cubs being born but only 41 individuals surviving in 2005. Criteria for assessing the success of reintroductions of species that naturally occur in low densities, such as top predators, generally have limited value. Carrying capacity for large predators is unknown and continued monitoring and intensive management will be necessary in enclosed, and possibly all, conservation areas in the Eastern Cape to ensure conservation success.

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