Avoidance or Coexistence? The Spatiotemporal Patterns of Wild Mammals in a Human-dominated Landscape in the Western Himalaya

Nimisha Srivastava,Ramesh Krishnamurthy,Sambandam Sathyakumar

doi:10.1659/mrd-journal-d-19-00046.1

Nimisha Srivastava, Ramesh Krishnamurthy + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1659/mrd-journal-d-19-00046.1

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Abstract

Human–wildlife interfaces are increasing rapidly due to the disproportionate growth of human and wildlife populations in a spatial context. The Himalayan system, a global biodiversity hotspot, is subject to landscape modification from various anthropogenic activities. In this study, we offer insights into the human–wildlife interface, reflecting avoidance or coexistence, with implications for local and landscape management strategies. We investigated fine-scale space use and temporal activity patterns of mammalian wildlife in a human-dominated landscape, outside a protected area. The research methods involved robust digital camera trap sampling (n = 131) across the target area (116 km2) with a total human population of 153,585. We developed a new sampling strategy that accounted for spatial heterogeneity in the habitats and variations in mammalian community composition. Our results showed that, in spite of high usage and the presence of humans across the study area, 16 wild mammal species used the area with varying intensities, exploiting habitat and forage availability. Of the camera traps placed in the study area, 70.23% had overlapping captures for humans on foot and wild mammal species. Generalist species used natural, modified, and altered habitats, while herbivores remained in natural and modified areas. However, some mammals that used modified/altered areas avoided humans by modifying their temporal activity. In the context of management of large landscapes, including areas outside the protected area network, the results of this study highlight the significant plasticity exhibited by wild mammals in negotiating natural and human-modified habitats. This offers an opportunity to develop conservation management strategies focusing on these fine-scale patterns and human actions.

Highlights

Human population growth and related modification and loss of natural habitat continue to pose a serious threat to biodiversity (Noss et al 1996; Wilcove et al 1998; Western 2001; Tigas et al 2002)
Most of the modified areas were close to human settlements, and it was expected that animals would show differences in activity patterns between the areas
Results of the Watson U2 test showed that species such as Himalayan masked palm civet, red fox, yellow-throated marten, and barking deer showed no significant difference in temporal activity pattern between the two habitats

Summary

Introduction

Human population growth and related modification and loss of natural habitat continue to pose a serious threat to biodiversity (Noss et al 1996; Wilcove et al 1998; Western 2001; Tigas et al 2002). The biodiversity has been attributed to the habitat heterogeneity that such areas provide (Benton et al 2003; Bennett et al 2006; Gardner et al 2009; Anand et al 2010). This led the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to issue Aichi Biodiversity Target 7, which focuses on the sustainable management of agroecosystems to conserve biodiversity. The CBD proposed the concept of ‘‘Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures’’ to achieve Aichi Biodiversity Target 11, which aims to protect 17% of terrestrial area to promote landscape conservation, in biodiversity-rich areas, such as the Himalaya (CBD Plan 2011–2020; CBD 2018)

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