Prey availability and intraguild competition regulate the spatiotemporal dynamics of a modified large carnivore guild

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Wildlife Management

Background:

• African ecosystems face increased carnivore competition due to declining prey and loss of apex predators like lions.
• Kasungu National Park (KNP) has experienced significant reductions in carnivore and prey populations, leaving only leopards and spotted hyenas.
• Understanding spatiotemporal dynamics is vital for managing large carnivore density and resource partitioning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the spatiotemporal dynamics and association between leopards and spotted hyenas in KNP.
• To investigate how interspecific and intraspecific competition influences their behavior.
• To assess the implications for large carnivore demographics and conservation strategies.

Main Methods:

• Utilized camera trap data to analyze co-detection, time-to-event, and temporal activity patterns.
• Employed co-detection modeling to assess species associations with prey and competitors.
• Conducted temporal analyses to identify sex-specific activity differences.

Main Results:

• Leopard and spotted hyena detections were associated with preferred prey and competing carnivores, indicating potential interactions.
• Significant sex-specific differences in temporal activity were observed, particularly for female leopards.
• Female leopards exhibited temporal avoidance strategies, increasing overall and diurnal activity, potentially impacting fitness.

Conclusions:

• Female leopards may be adapting their activity patterns to coexist with spotted hyenas and male leopards, driven by competition.
• Altered activity patterns could have fitness consequences for female leopards, affecting survival and reproduction.
• Conserving prey populations is essential to mitigate interspecific competition and maintain the stability of the large carnivore guild in KNP.