Tiger occurrence in response to prey and anthropogenic disturbances

Understanding factors influencing spatiotemporal patterns of apex
predators is pre-requisite for their conservation. We studied spatial and
temporal responses of tigers (Panthera tigris) to prey availability and
anthropogenic activities with remote cameras in Nepal during December
2022–March 2023. We used hierarchical occupancy models to evaluate biotic
factors (detection rates of 6 prey species, number of humans or livestock)
contributing to the tiger occupancy, while taking into account landscape
effects on their detection probability. We calculated the diel activity
overlap of tigers with each prey species, as well as humans and livestock.
Overall, tigers had high occupancy (0.898 ± 0.074) and detection
probability (0.621 ± 0.044). Tiger occupancy increased with prey
availability but was not influenced by humans or livestock. Tiger
detection probability increased with increasing distance to water,
potentially a consequence of tigers being more cautious where human
presence is likely. Tigers exhibited extensive temporal overlap with their
prey, but not with humans or livestock. Our study demonstrates the ability
of tigers to co-exist with humans through adjusting diel activity and
potentially moving cryptically in certain landscapes, provided adequate
prey is available. Management actions that ensure adequate prey
availability can benefit tiger conservation.

阐明影响顶级捕食者（apex predators）时空分布格局的驱动因素，是开展其保护工作的前提条件。本研究于2022年12月至2023年3月在尼泊尔开展，依托红外相机（remote cameras）监测了虎（Panthera tigris）对猎物可获得性及人类活动的时空响应。本研究采用层级占用模型（hierarchical occupancy models），评估了影响虎种群占用的生物因子（6种猎物的检测率、人类及牲畜数量），同时考量了景观因素对其检测概率的影响。我们还计算了虎与各猎物物种、人类及牲畜之间的昼夜活动重叠度。整体而言，虎的种群占用率为0.898 ± 0.074，检测概率为0.621 ± 0.044，均处于较高水平。虎的种群占用率随猎物可获得性提升而升高，但不受人类及牲畜活动的影响。虎的检测概率随与水源距离的增加而升高，这可能是因为虎在人类活动潜在高发区域会更为谨慎。虎与猎物之间存在广泛的昼夜活动重叠，但与人类及牲畜的活动重叠度极低。本研究表明，只要猎物资源充足，虎可通过调整昼夜活动节律、在部分景观中隐秘活动的方式与人类共存。保障充足猎物资源的管理措施，将有助于虎的保护工作。