Are human-altered landscapes reshaping carnivore niche spaces in the trans-Himalaya?

Understanding carnivore interactions under growing human pressures is crucial for conservation. We examined spatial and temporal niche structuring among snow leopards (Panthera uncia), Himalayan wolves (Canis lupus chanco), and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), while also incorporating free-ranging dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) as a human-subsidized mesopredator whose presence reflects and amplifies anthropogenic pressures. Using camera-trap data from the trans-Himalayan landscape of Spiti, we applied multi-species occupancy, spatial co-occurrence, and diel activity analyses to study how human influence and interspecific interactions shape carnivore coexistence. Spatial analyses revealed positive associations between red fox occupancy and other carnivores, influenced by elevation, prey availability, and distance to human settlements, likely reflecting facilitation via scavenging opportunities. In contrast, interactions among dogs, wolves, and snow leopards were more variable, with both positiv..., , , # Are human-altered landscapes reshaping carnivore niche spaces in the trans-Himalaya?

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.31zcrjdxg](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.31zcrjdxg)

## Description of the data and file structure

This dataset was collected to investigate niche partitioning among carnivores in the Spiti Valley, northern India, under increasing human pressures. The study focused on four species: snow leopards (*Panthera uncia*), Himalayan wolves (*Canis lupus chanco*), red foxes (*Vulpes vulpes*), and free-ranging dogs (*Canis lupus familiaris*).

The data includes results from **Camera Trap Surveys** used to monitor species occupancy, spatio-temporal activity patterns, and interactions among carnivores.

### Files and variables

#### File: WLB-2025-01494.R2.zip

**Description:** It contains the following three folders:

## 1. occupancy

The folder contains data and analysis scripts related to the detection and occupancy patterns of carnivore species in the Spiti Valley.

#### **Dat...,