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Chen X, Tian T, Pan H, Jin Y, Zhang X, Long Q, Tang L, Yang B, Zhang L. The Minimal Impact of Anthropogenic Disturbances on the Spatial Activities of Leopard Cats in Xinlong, China. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3328. [PMID: 37958083 PMCID: PMC10650319 DOI: 10.3390/ani13213328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The habitat plays a crucial role in ensuring the survival of wildlife. However, the increasing disturbances caused by human activities present a substantial threat to habitats, especially for species such as the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), which is a significant small predator. Currently, research on leopard cats predominantly focuses on low-altitude regions within its distribution range, leaving plateau areas understudied. To enhance our understanding of the impact of human disturbances on leopard cat habitats, we undertook a study employing infrared camera trappings to monitor leopard cats' activity in Xinlong of southwestern China between 2015 and 2023. We analyzed the spatial distribution and habitat suitability of the leopard cats by utilizing ensemble species distribution models (ESDMs). Moreover, we employed two-species occupancy models to investigate the spatial interaction between leopard cats and human disturbances. The results indicated that (1) the potential suitable habitat area for leopard cats encompassed approximately 1324.93 km2 (14.3%), primarily located along the banks of Yalong river. (2) The distribution of suitable habitat was predominantly influenced by competitors, specifically the yellow-throated marten (YTM), accounting for 52.4% of the influence, as well as environmental factors such as distance to water (DTW) at 12.0% and terrain roughness index (TRI) at 10.0%. Human interference, including cattle presence (4.6%), distance to road (DTD, 4.9%), and distance to settlement (DTS, 3.5%), had a limited impact on the habitat distribution. (3) Within a 5 km radius, habitat suitability increased with proximity to human settlements. (4) Leopard cats exhibited spatial independence from humans and domestic cattle (species interaction factor (SIF) = 1.00) while avoiding domestic horses (SIF = 0.76 ± 0.03). The relatively minor impact of human disturbances in Xinlong could be attributed to traditional cultural practices safeguarding wildlife and the leopard cat's environmental adaptability. We recommend establishing a novel conservation paradigm based on the living dynamics of wildlife communities in Xinlong, thereby offering a more targeted approach to biodiversity preservation in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Chen
- Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (X.C.); (T.T.); (H.P.)
| | - Tengteng Tian
- Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (X.C.); (T.T.); (H.P.)
| | - Han Pan
- Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (X.C.); (T.T.); (H.P.)
- College of Life Science, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637002, China
- Society of Entrepreneurs and Ecology (SEE) Foundation, Beijing 100020, China; (Y.J.); (X.Z.)
| | - Yuyi Jin
- Society of Entrepreneurs and Ecology (SEE) Foundation, Beijing 100020, China; (Y.J.); (X.Z.)
| | - Xiaodian Zhang
- Society of Entrepreneurs and Ecology (SEE) Foundation, Beijing 100020, China; (Y.J.); (X.Z.)
| | - Qinggang Long
- China Environmental Protection Foundation, Beijing 100062, China; (Q.L.); (L.T.)
| | - Ling Tang
- China Environmental Protection Foundation, Beijing 100062, China; (Q.L.); (L.T.)
| | - Biao Yang
- College of Life Science, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637002, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (X.C.); (T.T.); (H.P.)
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Chaudhry EA, Ransom TS, Bradley CJ, Liebgold EB. Habitat Usage, Dietary Niche Overlap, and Potential Partitioning between the Endangered Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) and Other Turtle Species. ICHTHYOLOGY & HERPETOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1643/h2021134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Eaqan A. Chaudhry
- Department of Biological Sciences, Salisbury University, 1101 Camden Ave., Salisbury, Maryland 21801; (EAC)
| | - Tami S. Ransom
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Salisbury University, 1101 Camden Ave., Salisbury, Maryland 21801
| | - Christina J. Bradley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Salisbury University, 1101 Camden Ave., Salisbury, Maryland 21801; (EAC)
| | - Eric B. Liebgold
- Department of Biological Sciences, Salisbury University, 1101 Camden Ave., Salisbury, Maryland 21801; (EAC)
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Avrin AC, Pekins CE, Wilmers CC, Sperry JH, Allen ML. Can a mesocarnivore fill the functional role of an apex predator? Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra C. Avrin
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences University of Illinois Urbana Illinois USA
| | - Charles E. Pekins
- Fort Hood Natural Resources Management Branch United States Army Garrison Fort Hood Texas USA
| | - Christopher C. Wilmers
- Environmental Studies Department, Center for Integrated Spatial Research University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz California USA
| | - Jinelle H. Sperry
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences University of Illinois Urbana Illinois USA
- Engineer Research and Development Center United States Army Corps of Engineers Champaign Illinois USA
| | - Maximilian L. Allen
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences University of Illinois Urbana Illinois USA
- Illinois Natural History Survey University of Illinois Champaign Illinois USA
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Watabe R, Saito MU. Winter weather conditions result in temporal niche overlap among three sympatric medium-sized carnivores in northeastern Japan. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03271-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Sumatra-wide assessment of spatiotemporal niche partitioning among small carnivore species. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00315-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Tian J, Zou Q, Zhang M, Hu C, Khattak RH, Su H. Spatial and temporal differentiation are not distinct but are covariant for facilitating coexistence of small and medium-sized carnivores in Southwestern China. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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Gálvez N, Infante J, Fernandez A, Díaz J, Petracca L. Land use intensification coupled with free‐roaming dogs as potential defaunation drivers of mesocarnivores in agricultural landscapes. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás Gálvez
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Villarrica Campus Wildlife Ecology and Coexistence Laboratory Centre for Research in Local Development Villarrica Chile
| | - José Infante
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Villarrica Campus Wildlife Ecology and Coexistence Laboratory Centre for Research in Local Development Villarrica Chile
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Fauna Australis Wildlife Laboratory Department of Ecosystems and Environment School of Agronomy and Forestry Santiago Chile
| | - Adrián Fernandez
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Villarrica Campus Wildlife Ecology and Coexistence Laboratory Centre for Research in Local Development Villarrica Chile
| | - Jesús Díaz
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Villarrica Campus Wildlife Ecology and Coexistence Laboratory Centre for Research in Local Development Villarrica Chile
| | - Lisanne Petracca
- Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences University of Washington Seattle WA USA
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Filacorda S, Comin A, Franchini M, Frangini L, Pesaro S, Pezzin EN, Prandi A. Cortisol in Hair: Do Habitat Fragmentation and Competition with Golden Jackal (Canis aureus) Measurably Affect the Long-Term Physiological Response in European Wildcat (Felis silvestris)? ANN ZOOL FENN 2021. [DOI: 10.5735/086.059.0101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Filacorda
- Department of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/A, IT-33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Antonella Comin
- Department of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/A, IT-33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Marcello Franchini
- Department of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/A, IT-33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Frangini
- Department of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/A, IT-33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Stefano Pesaro
- Department of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/A, IT-33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Eva Nilanthi Pezzin
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, IT-35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Alberto Prandi
- Department of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/A, IT-33100 Udine, Italy
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Kinap NM, Nagy-Reis M, Bobrowiec PED, Gordo M, Spironello WR. Influence of topography gradient and seasonality on primate habitat use in Central Amazonia. Mamm Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-021-00108-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Silva I, Crane M, Savini T. High roadkill rates in the Dong Phayayen‐Khao Yai World Heritage Site: conservation implications of a rising threat to wildlife. Anim Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- I. Silva
- Conservation Ecology Program School of Bioresources and Technology King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi Bangkok Thailand
| | - M. Crane
- Conservation Ecology Program School of Bioresources and Technology King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi Bangkok Thailand
| | - T. Savini
- Conservation Ecology Program School of Bioresources and Technology King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi Bangkok Thailand
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Oliver K, Ngoprasert D, Savini T. Slow loris density in a fragmented, disturbed dry forest, north-east Thailand. Am J Primatol 2019; 81:e22957. [PMID: 30779200 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2018] [Revised: 01/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Primate survival in disturbed forests can be governed by a complex of forest variables. For nocturnal arboreal primates, determining these ecological features is notoriously difficult but is critically important for their conservation. Here we assessed the effects of forest type, food availability, human disturbance, and forest structure on the nocturnal Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis) in Sakaerat Biosphere, north-east Thailand, a small disturbed fragment containing dry evergreen, dry dipterocarp, and plantation forests. Distance sampling revealed plantation forest had the highest density estimate (27 loris/km2 ) followed by dry evergreen forest (17 loris/km2 ), while dry dipterocarp forest only had four detections. Based on forest type selection analyses, loris had a positive association with sap and fruit-flower productivity which was highest in plantation forest compared to the natural dry evergreen or dry dipterocarp forests. Furthermore, forest structure selection analysis indicated loris preferred denser canopies. Loris presence was positively associated with canopy height, canopy connections, tree trunk vegetation cover, and canopy density. The higher loris density found in the plantations, as also reported by other studies, was associated with dense vegetation structure and higher food productivity, particularly sap. However, the important structural features found in the plantation forest are strongly dependent on forest maturity, and the reduced longevity of such exotic tree species may limit the conservation importance of plantation forest, merely acting as a short-term alternative to natural habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Oliver
- Conservation Ecology Program, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Dusit Ngoprasert
- Conservation Ecology Program, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Tommaso Savini
- Conservation Ecology Program, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand
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