Intraspecific interactions in a high‐density leopard population
Abstract Although less studied than interspecific interactions, interactions among members of the same species can influence space use and temporal activity. Using techniques commonly applied to the analysis of interspecific interactions—multispecies occupancy modeling and the analysis of temporal a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8227 |
| _version_ | 1811190507167023104 |
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| author | Sarah Rouse Pouyan Behnoud Kaveh Hobeali Peyman Moghadas Zolfaghar Salahshour Hossein Eslahi Mousa Ommatmohammadi Ali Khani Abolfazl Shabani David W. Macdonald Mohammad S. Farhadinia |
| author_facet | Sarah Rouse Pouyan Behnoud Kaveh Hobeali Peyman Moghadas Zolfaghar Salahshour Hossein Eslahi Mousa Ommatmohammadi Ali Khani Abolfazl Shabani David W. Macdonald Mohammad S. Farhadinia |
| author_sort | Sarah Rouse |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Although less studied than interspecific interactions, interactions among members of the same species can influence space use and temporal activity. Using techniques commonly applied to the analysis of interspecific interactions—multispecies occupancy modeling and the analysis of temporal activity patterns—we studied intraspecific interactions within a high‐density population of Persian leopards (Panthera pardus saxicolor) in Tandoureh National Park, northeastern Iran. Using camera‐trap data, we investigated spatiotemporal interactions between male leopards, lone female leopards, and families (cubs/females with cubs). While we hypothesized that male and female leopards would display different temporal activity patterns, we did not predict spatial avoidance between these groups. We also predicted that leopard families would exhibit spatiotemporal avoidance from male leopards due to the risk of infanticide. Contrary to our expectations, we did not find any evidence for spatial or temporal avoidance between leopard families and adult male leopards. Male and lone female leopards exhibited positive pairwise co‐occurrence, consistent with reports of high overlap between male and female leopard home ranges. While a high level of overlap in temporal activity patterns was found between males/lone females and males/families, there was evidence for variation in the proportion of time each leopard group was active in particular periods of the diel cycle. Male leopards showed cathemeral activity, while lone females and families were more active during daylight hours. The application of these techniques to interactions within a species has improved understanding of the ecology and behavior of this endangered solitary carnivore. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:51:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f530142610384d48b246c4303502f2ad |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:51:14Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-f530142610384d48b246c4303502f2ad2022-12-22T04:17:27ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582021-12-011123165721658410.1002/ece3.8227Intraspecific interactions in a high‐density leopard populationSarah Rouse0Pouyan Behnoud1Kaveh Hobeali2Peyman Moghadas3Zolfaghar Salahshour4Hossein Eslahi5Mousa Ommatmohammadi6Ali Khani7Abolfazl Shabani8David W. Macdonald9Mohammad S. Farhadinia10School of Geography and the Environment University of Oxford Oxford UKFuture4Leopards Foundation Tehran IranFuture4Leopards Foundation Tehran IranFuture4Leopards Foundation Tehran IranKhorasan Razavi Provincial Office of Department of the Environment Mashhad IranKhorasan Razavi Provincial Office of Department of the Environment Mashhad IranKhorasan Razavi Provincial Office of Department of the Environment Mashhad IranKhorasan Razavi Provincial Office of Department of the Environment Mashhad IranKhorasan Razavi Provincial Office of Department of the Environment Mashhad IranWildlife Conservation Research Unit University of Oxford Oxford UKFuture4Leopards Foundation Tehran IranAbstract Although less studied than interspecific interactions, interactions among members of the same species can influence space use and temporal activity. Using techniques commonly applied to the analysis of interspecific interactions—multispecies occupancy modeling and the analysis of temporal activity patterns—we studied intraspecific interactions within a high‐density population of Persian leopards (Panthera pardus saxicolor) in Tandoureh National Park, northeastern Iran. Using camera‐trap data, we investigated spatiotemporal interactions between male leopards, lone female leopards, and families (cubs/females with cubs). While we hypothesized that male and female leopards would display different temporal activity patterns, we did not predict spatial avoidance between these groups. We also predicted that leopard families would exhibit spatiotemporal avoidance from male leopards due to the risk of infanticide. Contrary to our expectations, we did not find any evidence for spatial or temporal avoidance between leopard families and adult male leopards. Male and lone female leopards exhibited positive pairwise co‐occurrence, consistent with reports of high overlap between male and female leopard home ranges. While a high level of overlap in temporal activity patterns was found between males/lone females and males/families, there was evidence for variation in the proportion of time each leopard group was active in particular periods of the diel cycle. Male leopards showed cathemeral activity, while lone females and families were more active during daylight hours. The application of these techniques to interactions within a species has improved understanding of the ecology and behavior of this endangered solitary carnivore.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8227camera trapintraspecific interactionmultispecies occupancy modelPanthera parduspaternity confusion hypothesistemporal activity |
| spellingShingle | Sarah Rouse Pouyan Behnoud Kaveh Hobeali Peyman Moghadas Zolfaghar Salahshour Hossein Eslahi Mousa Ommatmohammadi Ali Khani Abolfazl Shabani David W. Macdonald Mohammad S. Farhadinia Intraspecific interactions in a high‐density leopard population Ecology and Evolution camera trap intraspecific interaction multispecies occupancy model Panthera pardus paternity confusion hypothesis temporal activity |
| title | Intraspecific interactions in a high‐density leopard population |
| title_full | Intraspecific interactions in a high‐density leopard population |
| title_fullStr | Intraspecific interactions in a high‐density leopard population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Intraspecific interactions in a high‐density leopard population |
| title_short | Intraspecific interactions in a high‐density leopard population |
| title_sort | intraspecific interactions in a high density leopard population |
| topic | camera trap intraspecific interaction multispecies occupancy model Panthera pardus paternity confusion hypothesis temporal activity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8227 |
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