Abstract
Effective conservation management requires an understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics driving large carnivore density and resource partitioning. In African ecosystems, reduced prey populations and the loss of competing guild members, most notably lion (Panthera leo), are expected to increase the levels of competition between remaining carnivores. Consequently, intraguild relationships can be altered, potentially increasing the risk of further population decline. Kasungu National Park (KNP), Malawi, is an example of a conservation area that has experienced large‐scale reductions in both carnivore and prey populations, leaving a resident large carnivore guild consisting of only leopard (Panthera pardus) and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). Here, we quantify the spatiotemporal dynamics of these two species and their degree of association, using a combination of co‐detection modeling, time‐to‐event analyses, and temporal activity patterns from camera trap data. The detection of leopard and spotted hyena was significantly associated with the detection of preferred prey and competing carnivores, increasing the likelihood of species interaction. Temporal analyses revealed sex‐specific differences in temporal activity, with female leopard activity patterns significantly different to those of spotted hyena and male conspecifics. Heightened risk of interaction with interspecific competitors and male conspecifics may have resulted in female leopards adopting temporal avoidance strategies to facilitate coexistence. Female leopard behavioral adaptations increased overall activity levels and diurnal activity rates, with potential consequences for overall fitness and exposure to sources of mortality. As both species are currently found at low densities in KNP, increased risk of competitive interactions, which infer a reduction in fitness, could have significant implications for large carnivore demographics. The protection of remaining prey populations is necessary to mitigate interspecific competition and avoid further alterations to the large carnivore guild.
Highlights
Global environmental change is driving the decline in large carnivore populations and can be attributed to numerous factors, including habitat destruction, loss of natural prey, reduced landscape connectivity, and human–wildlife conflict (Ripple et al, 2014; Wolf & Ripple, 2016)
The availability of preferred prey has previously been highlighted as a significant driver of leopard and hyena presence (Périquet et al, 2015; Searle et al, 2020), and we predict that (a) the detection of both species will increase in relation to prey detectability, (b) this will result in significant rates of co-d etection between leopard and hyena, and (c) the potential for high levels of spatial overlap between leopard and hyena will result in leopard adopting temporal avoidance mechanisms to facilitate coexistence and avoid competition
Overall activity was 0.57 (SE = 0.05) for leopard, 0.46 (SE = 0.06) for male leopard, and 0.65 (SE = 0.06) for female leopard and 0.42 (SE = 0.03) for hyena (Table 5)
Summary
Global environmental change is driving the decline in large carnivore populations and can be attributed to numerous factors, including habitat destruction, loss of natural prey, reduced landscape connectivity, and human–wildlife conflict (Ripple et al, 2014; Wolf & Ripple, 2016). Rising anthropogenic impacts increase pressure on species interactions through the loss of complex carnivore guilds, declines in natural prey, and shrinking protected area networks (Jones et al, 2018; Sévêque et al, 2020) These factors can distort carnivore dynamics and ecosystem function through increased competition for resources (Creel et al, 2018; Manlick & Pauli, 2020), reduced suppression of mesocarnivores (Brook et al, 2012; Prugh & Sivy, 2020), shifts in spatial use (Carter et al, 2019; Parsons et al, 2019), and changes in survival rates for dominant and subordinate competitors (M’soka et al, 2016; Elbroch & Kusler, 2018). The availability of preferred prey has previously been highlighted as a significant driver of leopard and hyena presence (Périquet et al, 2015; Searle et al, 2020), and we predict that (a) the detection of both species will increase in relation to prey detectability, (b) this will result in significant rates of co-d etection between leopard and hyena, and (c) the potential for high levels of spatial overlap between leopard and hyena will result in leopard adopting temporal avoidance mechanisms to facilitate coexistence and avoid competition
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