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Sharma HP, Bhattarai BP, Regmi S, Bhandari S, Adhikari D, Aryal B, Tamang K, Nepali A, K C S, Rawal B, Parajuli S, Baral BD, Devkota S, Koirala S, Belant JL, Katuwal HB. Occurrence and temporal overlap of sympatric jungle cats and leopard cats in Parsa‒Koshi Complex, Nepal. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2387. [PMID: 38287050 PMCID: PMC10825126 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52644-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Co-occurrence and spatial and temporal overlap of sympatric jungle and leopard cats are influenced by habitat preferences, and interspecific competition. Understanding these factors influence is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies. We conducted a camera survey in Parsa‒Koshi Complex (PKC), Nepal during December 2022-March 2023 to investigate factors influencing occupancy and spatial and temporal overlap between jungle cats (Felis chaus) and leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis). The mean detection probability (t = 0.664, p = 0.507) did not differ between jungle cats (p = 0.500 ± 0.289) and leopard cats (p = 0.501 ± 0.288); however, occupancy (t = 31.008, p < 0.001) was greater for jungle cats (ψ = 0.247 ± 0.020) than leopard cats (ψ = 0.178 ± 0.019). Jungle cats and leopard cats were positively associated with large predators, and jungle cats were positively associated with human presence and negatively associated with canopy cover. We observed high diel overlap between leopard cats and jungle cats (Dhat1 = 0.802, norm0CI: 0.720-0.884), with both species largely nocturnal. Co-existence of jungle cats and leopard cats in PKC appears to be facilitated by spatial segregation. These findings provide valuable insights into the complex ecological dynamics and interactions between sympatric jungle and leopard cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hari Prasad Sharma
- Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal.
- Nepal Zoological Society, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal.
| | - Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai
- Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Nepal Zoological Society, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Sandeep Regmi
- Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, 666303, Yunnan, China
| | - Shivish Bhandari
- Department of Biology, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, 21251, USA
| | | | - Bishnu Aryal
- Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Krishna Tamang
- Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Amrit Nepali
- Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Sabin K C
- Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Basudha Rawal
- Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Sagar Parajuli
- Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Bashu Dev Baral
- Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Surya Devkota
- Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | | | - Jerrold L Belant
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Hem Bahadur Katuwal
- Nepal Zoological Society, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal.
- Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, 666303, Yunnan, China.
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Bandyopadhyay M, Burton AC, Gupta SK, Krishnamurthy R. Understanding the distribution and fine-scale habitat selection of mesocarnivores along a habitat quality gradient in western Himalaya. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13993. [PMID: 36132214 PMCID: PMC9484455 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Human activities have resulted in a rapid increase of modified habitats in proximity to wildlife habitats in the Himalaya. However, it is crucial to understand the extent to which human habitat modification affects wildlife. Mesocarnivores generally possess broader niches than large carnivores and adapt quickly to human activities. Here, we use a case study in the western Himalaya to test the hypothesis that human disturbance influenced mesocarnivore habitat use. Methods: We used camera trapping and mitochondrial DNA-based species identification from faecal samples to obtain mesocarnivore detections. We then compared the responses of mesocarnivores between an anthropogenic site and a less disturbed park along a contiguous gradient in habitat quality. The non-linear pattern in species-specific habitat selection and factors responsible for space usage around villages was captured using hierarchical generalized additive modelling (HGAM) and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination. Results: Wildlife occurrences along the gradient varied by species. Leopard cat and red fox were the only terrestrial mesocarnivores that occurred in both anthropogenic site and park. We found a shift in habitat selection from less disturbed habitat in the park to disturbed habitat in anthropogenic site for the species detected in both the habitat types. For instance, red fox showed habitat selection towards high terrain ruggedness (0.5 to 0.7 TRI) and low NDVI (-0.05 to 0.2) in the park but no such specific selection in anthropogenic site. Further, leopard cat showed habitat selection towards moderate slope (20°) and medium NDVI (0.5) in park but no prominent habitat selections in anthropogenic site. The results revealed their constrained behaviour which was further supported by the intensive site usage close to houses, agricultural fields and human trails in villages. Conclusions: Our results indicate shifts in habitat selection and intensive site usage by mesocarnivores in the human-modified habitat. In future, this suggests the possibility of conflict and disease spread affecting both the people and wildlife. Therefore, this study highlights the requisite to test the wildlife responses to rapidly growing human expansions in modified habitats to understand the extent of impact. The management strategies need to have an integrated focus for further expansions of modified habitat and garbage disposal strategies, especially in the human-wildlife interface area.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - A. Cole Burton
- Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | | | - Ramesh Krishnamurthy
- Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India,Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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