Species interactions play a vital role in structuring mammalian communities by stimulating behavioral responses in varied niche dimensions that affect sympatric associations and predator-prey relationships. We determined temporal overlap and effects of the moon cycle on dominant and sub-dominant mammalian assemblages in Manas National Park, India. A total of 36 species were captured, with 24,865 independent records over 11,294 trap nights. We collected 1,130 photographs of five large-and medium-sized carnivores and 1,541 photographs of 12 small carnivores. Fifty-one percent of records were detected during diurnal period, followed by 38% in nocturnal phase, and 11% during twilight. Small carnivores such as Prionailurus bengalensis and Viverridae spp. were strictly nocturnal, whereas Martes flavigula and Herpestidae spp.were diurnal. Medium-sized carnivores were either nocturnal (Neofelis nebulosa) or diurnal (Cuon alpinus), whereas large-sized carnivores (Panthera tigris, Panthera pardus, and Ursus thibetanus) were cathemeral. A high degree of temporal overlap (>0.75) was found between most sympatric carnivores with distinct activity peaks, while a low overlap (<0.50) was observed between different body-sized carnivores. Viverrids' activity was negatively correlated (r = −0.44, p < 0.01) with lunar cycles, perhaps to increase foraging efficiency or as an anti-predator strategy. Large prey (μ = 133.23°) and small prey (μ = 131.35°) activity were high during brighter nights due to better visual detection in detecting or avoiding predators. Dominant species activity was least affected by the lunar cycle among forest-dependent mammals, whereas subdominant species activity was either lunarphobic or lunarphilic. The study demonstrates the use of passive camera traps in understanding the behavioral rhythms of tropical mammals.

Potent pollinators and ecological indicators, butterflies are important for estimating the general health of an ecosystem. Owing to the rich plant diversity (927 species), an arboretum in Vadodara, state of Gujarat, India was selected for surveying butterfly diversity. Our survey was conducted in all seasons for an entire year from October 2012 to October 2013 and revealed 61 species. Recorded were six species of Papilionidae, three species of Hesperiidae, 20 species of Nymphalidae, 13 species of Pieridae, and 19 species of Lycaenidae. Junonia dominated with five species, followed by Eurema (three species), Graphium (three species), and Chilades (three species). Our study gives a comprehensive insight into the species diversity and richness of butterflies in Vadodara and highlights the need to conserve rare and threatened butterfly species there.

Information on the status and distribution of species within a geographical area is vital for developing effective conservation plans. We conducted camera-trapping (n = 473) to determine diversity, species composition, relative abundance index, sampling effort, and conservation status of mammals in forested habitats of Manas National Park, Assam, India. Camera stations accumulated data over 11,388 trap nights over three sampling years: 2017&ndash;2019. Camera-traps recorded 34 mammalian species belonging to seven orders, 15 families, and 29 genera, with 22,738 independent records. Among them, 17 species are globally threatened or 50% of the recorded species. The species accumulation curve reached an asymptote, indicating an adequate sampling design for obtaining a robust inventory of the mammalian community. Despite a history of ethnopolitical conflict, almost all mammals expected to occur in the park were detected. Our study will enable future evaluations of the recovery process in terms of changes in mammal abundance over time.

9Species interaction plays a vital role in structuring communities by stimulating behavioral 10 responses in temporal niche affecting the sympatric associations and prey-predator 11 relationships. We studied relative abundance indices (RAI) and activity patterns of each 12 species, temporal overlap between sympatric species, and effects of moon cycle on predator-13 prey relationships, through camera-trapping in tropical semi-evergreen forests of Manas 14 National Park. A total of 35 species were photo-captured with 16214 independent records over 15 7337 trap nights. Overall, relatively high number of photographs was obtained for large 16 herbivores (11 species, n=13669), and low number of photographs were recorded for large 17 carnivores (five species, n=657). Activity periods were classified into four categories: diurnal 18 (day-time), nocturnal (night-time), crepuscular (twilight), and cathemeral (day and night time) 19 of which 52% records were found in diurnal period followed by 37% in nocturnal phase 20 whereas only 11% photographs during twilight. Small carnivores were strictly nocturnal 21 (leopard cat and civets) or diurnal (yellow-throated marten and mongooses); whereas large 22 carnivores were cathemeral (tiger, leopard, clouded leopard and Asiatic black bear). Analysis 2 23 of activity patterns throughout the 24-h cycle revealed a high degree of temporal overlap 24 (>60%) among most of the sympatric species; however, differences in the activity peaks were 25 found between most of the species pairs. Moon phase was classified according to the 26 percentage of visible moon surface as new (0-25%), waxing (25-50%), waning (50-75%) and 27 full moon (75-100%). Moon phase did not have any correlation with activity of large carnivore 28 and large prey. The large carnivore followed the feed and starve pattern of cyclic activity. The 29 activity of small carnivore was influenced negatively by moonlight ( partial correlation r = -0.221, 30 p<0.01). The result suggests that large carnivores were active non-differentially across moon 31 phases; however, small carnivores showed significantly high activity in darker nights. These 32 patterns indicate that small predators may differ their activity temporally as an anti-predator 33 strategy or otherwise to increase their foraging efficiency. 34 Keywords 35 Camera-trapping, tropical forest, temporal overlap, sympatric, moon phase, prey-predator 36 relationship 37 42 carnivores, interspecific interactions are particularly relevant because of their role in the top-43 down control and also serve as flagship species in the conservation of biodiversity in many 44 terrestrial ecosystems [4]. Though, given the vital role of consumers and through trophic 45 cascades, changes in the environment could promote an increase of medium-sized carnivores 3 46 or mesopredators, due to top predator removal [5] which can cause substantial changes in the 47 dynamics of interaction among sympatric species [6], with adverse effects on subordinate 48 species. Thus, to minimize risks, subo...

Potent pollinators and ecological indicators, butterflies are important for estimating the general health of an ecosystem. Owing to the rich plant diversity (927 species), an arboretum in Vadodara, state of Gujarat, India was selected for surveying butterfly diversity. Our survey was conducted in all seasons for an entire year from October 2012 to October 2013 and revealed 61 species. Recorded were six species of Papilionidae, three species of Hesperiidae, 20 species of Nymphalidae, 13 species of Pieridae, and 19 species of Lycaenidae. Junonia dominated with five species, followed by Eurema (three species), Graphium (three species), and Chilades (three species). Our study gives a comprehensive insight into the species diversity and richness of butterflies in Vadodara and highlights the need to conserve rare and threatened butterfly species there.