Can meso-carnivores serve the role of extirpated apex predators? Spatial and temporal analysis from carnivores and herbivores in protected area

【作者】 官天培； 陈星； 谌利民； 郑维超； 肖梅；

【机构】 西南民族大学青藏高原研究院； 北京师范大学生命科学学院； 唐家河国家级自然保护区管理处； 四川大熊猫科学研究院；

【摘要】 To assess the potential of meso-carnivores in regulating herbivore populations, we analyzed the spatial-temporal pattern of two meso-carnivores, the Asian golden cat and the yellow-throated marten, and three common ungulate species that differ in size, takin, Chinese goral, and Reeves’ muntjac using infrared cameras in Tangjiahe Region of the Giant Panda National Park. The analysis involved a two-species occupancy model and kernel density estimation. The Asian golden cat and yellow-throated marten were spatially concentrated in habitats occupied by Chinese goral and Reeves’ muntjac. The distribution of both predators was spatially independent of takin. Although the activity pattern of the Asian golden cat significantly diverged from that of the Chinese goral and Reeves’ muntjac, the behavior responses of ungulates were more significant to the presence of smaller predator, the yellow throated marten.Therefore, mesopredators in Tangjiahe exerted considerable predation pressure on small-and middle-sized ungulates by inducing notable behavioral adaptations. In terms of changes in activity rhythm, the smaller Reeves’ muntjac are more vulnerable to mesopredators than Chinese goral and takin.The hunting tactic and population size of predators may compensate for their shortage of body size.Finally, based on this study, we have not found any evidence to support the notion that meso-carnivores can fully substitute for apex predators in terms of ecological roles. We strongly recommend conducting systematic ecological research with demographic monitoring to investigate the ecological roles played by large ungulates across different trophic levels and quantify the effects of abundant herbivore populations on biodiversity.更多还原

【Abstract】 To assess the potential of meso-carnivores in regulating herbivore populations, we analyzed the spatial-temporal pattern of two meso-carnivores, the Asian golden cat and the yellow-throated marten, and three common ungulate species that differ in size, takin, Chinese goral, and Reeves’ muntjac using infrared cameras in Tangjiahe Region of the Giant Panda National Park. The analysis involved a two-species occupancy model and kernel density estimation. The Asian golden cat and yellow-throated marten were spatially concentrated in habitats occupied by Chinese goral and Reeves’ muntjac. The distribution of both predators was spatially independent of takin. Although the activity pattern of the Asian golden cat significantly diverged from that of the Chinese goral and Reeves’ muntjac, the behavior responses of ungulates were more significant to the presence of smaller predator, the yellow throated marten.Therefore, mesopredators in Tangjiahe exerted considerable predation pressure on small-and middle-sized ungulates by inducing notable behavioral adaptations. In terms of changes in activity rhythm, the smaller Reeves’ muntjac are more vulnerable to mesopredators than Chinese goral and takin.The hunting tactic and population size of predators may compensate for their shortage of body size.Finally, based on this study, we have not found any evidence to support the notion that meso-carnivores can fully substitute for apex predators in terms of ecological roles. We strongly recommend conducting systematic ecological research with demographic monitoring to investigate the ecological roles played by large ungulates across different trophic levels and quantify the effects of abundant herbivore populations on biodiversity.更多还原