Spatial and temporal overlaps between leopards (Panthera pardus) and their competitors in the African large predator guild

Abstract

Understanding the mechanisms facilitating coexistence within species assemblages is a key consideration for conservation as intact assemblages are necessary for maintaining full ecosystem function. The African large predator guild represents one of the few remaining functionally intact large predator assemblages on Earth, and as such, represents a unique study system to understand competitive interactions. Yet, relatively little is known of the coexistence mechanisms between some of its intermediately sized members, particularly leopards (Panthera pardus). Here, we use overlapping spatio-temporal activity and GPS data on lions (Panthera leo), leopards, African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) and cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) to examine spatial interactions and temporal partitioning between leopards and other guild members in northern Botswana. We found that at the population level, male leopard space use and activity patterns were largely unaffected by intraguild competitors. Leopards showed minimal movement coherence with competitors (avoidance or attraction) when moving through areas of home ranges shared with intraguild species. Moreover, we found evidence to support the hypothesis that guild species' activity patterns are primarily driven by light availability rather than predator avoidance. Our results suggest predator avoidance has a limited impact on broad-scale leopard spatio-temporal niches, with aspects of the leopards' ecology and life history likely facilitating its ability to thrive in close proximity to competitors. Considered alongside other studies, our results suggest that landscape-level approaches to conservation may be suitable for aiding leopard conservation.

Temporal partitioning and spatiotemporal avoidance among large carnivores in a human-impacted African landscape

“…Lion are known to attack and kill leopard [20], steal kills from the smaller-bodied felid [67], and impact cub survival and recruitment rates in leopard populations [68]. However, multiple studies have found leopard to not spatially segregate from lion over larger areas [20,21,22]. In our study landscape, this is likely a result of the species' shared habitat preferences [69]: large-scale avoidance of lion would prevent leopard from accessing many vital resources, particularly in human-impacted areas where resources are more limited, and this may pose a fitness cost to leopard that outweighs the benefits of complete avoidance of the dominant competitor [23].…”

“…Lion are also known to attack and kill leopard (Panthera pardus; 17), which have been shown to move to denser habitats when in close proximity to lion [19] and actively avoid areas where the probability of encountering the dominant competitor is highest [20]. However, multiple studies have found no evidence of lion suppressing leopard at a population level [20,21,22], and it has been theorised that the species may be forced to share space in more anthropogenically impacted areas [23]. Spotted hyaena also typically dominate over leopard [24], and there is evidence of temporal partitioning between the two species [25].…”

Spatial and temporal overlaps of top predators: Dhole, tiger and leopard, and their potential preys in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand

“…The spatial-temporal overlap between large carnivores and other wild animals in ecosystems is complicated (Rafiq et al 2020). It is an important matter in understanding social diversity regarding competition among predators and predator-prey relationships so that the viable populations of predators and other animals can be sustained (Zhou et al 2020).…”

Terrestrial mesopredators did not increase after top-predator removal in a large-scale experimental test of mesopredator release theory

“…These results from Australia add to the growing body of evidence from other countries that mesopredator suppression or release processes are not ubiquitous. Work from Europe 117,118 , Africa [119][120][121][122][123] , Asia [124][125][126] , North America 9,127 , and South America 128,129 also continue to report an absence of strong top-predator effects on mesopredators, with bottom-up effects appearing to be more strongly associated with mesopredator population changes. Yellowstone National Park in North America appears to be the location where these effects are most apparent, for wolves, with limited evidence for these processes available for almost all other large carnivores ( 2 ; see also 12 ).…”