Density and movements of mainland clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa) under conditions of high and low poaching pressure
Despite its high risk of extinction in the wild, little is known about the ecology and population status of the mainland clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa). We used camera-traps and spatial capture-recapture analysis to estimate mainland clouded leopard density within southern Thailand’s Khlong Sae...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2020-09-01
|
| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235198941930976X |
| _version_ | 1818485921362739200 |
|---|---|
| author | Wyatt Joseph Petersen Robert Steinmetz Kriangsak Sribuarod Dusit Ngoprasert |
| author_facet | Wyatt Joseph Petersen Robert Steinmetz Kriangsak Sribuarod Dusit Ngoprasert |
| author_sort | Wyatt Joseph Petersen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite its high risk of extinction in the wild, little is known about the ecology and population status of the mainland clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa). We used camera-traps and spatial capture-recapture analysis to estimate mainland clouded leopard density within southern Thailand’s Khlong Saeng – Khao Sok Forest Complex, comparing densities in two zones of the forest with different levels of human access and poaching pressure (core and edge). Over 5242 trap-days, we detected at least 27 mainland clouded leopards, including 12 females and 15 males. Model averaged density in the less accessible core zone (5.06 ± SE 1.64/100 km2) was 62% higher compared to the more accessible and more heavily hunted edge zone (3.13 ± SE 1.05/100 km2). This density difference corresponded to a 56% higher occupancy probability of muntjacs (Muntiacus spp.) in the core zone, a potentially important prey species for clouded leopards. Model averaged movements (sigma) of male clouded leopards were 38% larger (3448 m; SE 551 m) than female movements (2502 m; SE 478 m). Mainland clouded leopard density at our study site was among the highest recorded in South and Southeast Asia (range: 0.40 to 5.14/100 km2). We hypothesize this high density might be related to the extirpation of larger sympatric carnivores. Our study provides important baseline information for monitoring the conservation status of mainland clouded leopards in Thailand and Southeast Asia and offers insights into the species’ behavioral ecology and capacity to adapt to human disturbance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T16:15:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6e63477ef9ba41d6bd7d9f10fc239a9b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2351-9894 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T16:15:53Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj.art-6e63477ef9ba41d6bd7d9f10fc239a9b2022-12-22T01:41:58ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942020-09-0123Density and movements of mainland clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa) under conditions of high and low poaching pressureWyatt Joseph Petersen0Robert Steinmetz1Kriangsak Sribuarod2Dusit Ngoprasert3Conservation Ecology Program, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, 49 Thakham, Bangkhuntien, Bangkok, 10150, ThailandWWF-Thailand, Pisit Building, 11 Pradiphat Soi, 10 Pradiphat Road, Phayathai, Bangkok, 10400, ThailandKhlong Saeng Wildlife Research Station, Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Paholyotin Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10110, ThailandConservation Ecology Program, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, 49 Thakham, Bangkhuntien, Bangkok, 10150, Thailand; Corresponding author.Despite its high risk of extinction in the wild, little is known about the ecology and population status of the mainland clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa). We used camera-traps and spatial capture-recapture analysis to estimate mainland clouded leopard density within southern Thailand’s Khlong Saeng – Khao Sok Forest Complex, comparing densities in two zones of the forest with different levels of human access and poaching pressure (core and edge). Over 5242 trap-days, we detected at least 27 mainland clouded leopards, including 12 females and 15 males. Model averaged density in the less accessible core zone (5.06 ± SE 1.64/100 km2) was 62% higher compared to the more accessible and more heavily hunted edge zone (3.13 ± SE 1.05/100 km2). This density difference corresponded to a 56% higher occupancy probability of muntjacs (Muntiacus spp.) in the core zone, a potentially important prey species for clouded leopards. Model averaged movements (sigma) of male clouded leopards were 38% larger (3448 m; SE 551 m) than female movements (2502 m; SE 478 m). Mainland clouded leopard density at our study site was among the highest recorded in South and Southeast Asia (range: 0.40 to 5.14/100 km2). We hypothesize this high density might be related to the extirpation of larger sympatric carnivores. Our study provides important baseline information for monitoring the conservation status of mainland clouded leopards in Thailand and Southeast Asia and offers insights into the species’ behavioral ecology and capacity to adapt to human disturbance.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235198941930976XCamera-trappingMainland clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosaDensity estimatePoachingPrey availabilitySpatial capture-recapture |
| spellingShingle | Wyatt Joseph Petersen Robert Steinmetz Kriangsak Sribuarod Dusit Ngoprasert Density and movements of mainland clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa) under conditions of high and low poaching pressure Global Ecology and Conservation Camera-trapping Mainland clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa Density estimate Poaching Prey availability Spatial capture-recapture |
| title | Density and movements of mainland clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa) under conditions of high and low poaching pressure |
| title_full | Density and movements of mainland clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa) under conditions of high and low poaching pressure |
| title_fullStr | Density and movements of mainland clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa) under conditions of high and low poaching pressure |
| title_full_unstemmed | Density and movements of mainland clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa) under conditions of high and low poaching pressure |
| title_short | Density and movements of mainland clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa) under conditions of high and low poaching pressure |
| title_sort | density and movements of mainland clouded leopards neofelis nebulosa under conditions of high and low poaching pressure |
| topic | Camera-trapping Mainland clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa Density estimate Poaching Prey availability Spatial capture-recapture |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235198941930976X |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT wyattjosephpetersen densityandmovementsofmainlandcloudedleopardsneofelisnebulosaunderconditionsofhighandlowpoachingpressure AT robertsteinmetz densityandmovementsofmainlandcloudedleopardsneofelisnebulosaunderconditionsofhighandlowpoachingpressure AT kriangsaksribuarod densityandmovementsofmainlandcloudedleopardsneofelisnebulosaunderconditionsofhighandlowpoachingpressure AT dusitngoprasert densityandmovementsofmainlandcloudedleopardsneofelisnebulosaunderconditionsofhighandlowpoachingpressure |