Co-occurence between snow leopard and Eurasian lynx in southern Mongolia

Interspecific competition, a fundamental ecological process characterized
by negative interactions between species, plays a vital role in shaping
ecological communities. Despite the co-occurrence of the snow leopard
(Panthera uncia) and the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) across vast landscapes
in Asia, their interactions remain poorly understood. In this study, we
investigated how the presence of snow leopards affected site-use by lynx
and whether presence of snow leopards resulted in behavioral adaptations
by the lynx. Between 2017 and 2022, we conducted camera trap-based surveys
across six sites in Southern Mongolia and evaluated species co-occurrence
by snow leopards and lynx using the occupancy framework. We assumed snow
leopard to be the dominant species while using topographical and land
cover variables as covariates. Our results show that the presence of snow
leopards influenced site use by lynx, leading to a shift in space use when
snow leopards were present. Specifically, lynx used the entire range of
ruggedness and did not select for shrubby areas in the absence of snow
leopards whereas they avoided rugged areas and had a strong preference for
shrubby areas when snow leopards were present. Our findings emphasize the
influence a larger predator can have on the space use of a smaller
predator, and how presence of snow leopard can result in altering space
use of lynx. Understanding these interactions and behavioral adaptations
can be useful for developing effective conservation strategies in the
region.