Data from: Interspecific interactions among major carnivores in Panna Tiger Reserve: A multispecies occupancy approach

Aim: Large carnivores play a crucial role in trophic cascades, affecting
the population dynamics of both co-predators and prey within an ecosystem.
Understanding the significance of these carnivores in trophic interactions
is essential for developing effective conservation and management
strategies. We examined the effects of occupancy dynamics and patterns of
species interactions and co-existence within the carnivore guild in the
Panna Tiger Reserve in India. Methodology: We collected camera trap data
(two seasons, 2019) in a presence-absence framework and applied
multispecies occupancy models to assess the occupancy, co-occurrence, and
interactions among species. We also examined activity overlap to
understand the temporal segregation in the carnivore guild. Results: The
mean marginal occupancy was highest for leopards in winter (Ψwinter
0.92±0.02, Ψsummer 0.63±0.05) and hyenas in summer (Ψsummer 0.93±0.03,
Ψwinter 0.78±0.03) and was lowest for tigers in both seasons (Ψwinter
0.62±0.05, Ψsummer 0.15±0.05). Co-occurrence probability among carnivores
was higher in winter than in summer, and conditional occupancy was
consistently higher when other species were present. Different
environmental factors influenced marginal occupancy and co-occurrence
patterns across seasons. Strong temporal overlaps were recorded between
tiger–leopard (0.87–0.91) and tiger–hyena (0.78–0.79). Conclusion: We
detected a significant spatial segregation between tigers and leopards, as
they prefer different habitat types in different seasons, along with high
temporal overlap. Resource availability strongly governs the association
of carnivores with their habitat selection. Hyenas demonstrated higher
dependency on tigers than on leopards for resources. These findings
indicate that co-existence with apex-predator species is feasible through
strategic adaptation to fulfil resource requisition.

研究目的：大型食肉动物在营养级联效应（trophic cascades）中扮演关键角色，可通过生态过程调控生态系统内同域捕食者（co-predators）与猎物的种群动态。明确此类食肉动物在营养相互作用（trophic interactions）中的重要意义，是制定高效保护与管理策略的核心前提。本研究以印度潘纳老虎保护区（Panna Tiger Reserve）的食肉动物类群（carnivore guild）为研究对象，探究其占用动态、物种相互作用模式及共存格局。
研究方法：本研究于2019年分冬季、夏季两个季期采集相机诱捕（camera trap）数据，采用存在-缺失实验框架，并运用多物种占用模型（multispecies occupancy models）评估各物种的占用率、共现模式及种间相互作用；同时通过分析活动重叠度（activity overlap），解析食肉动物类群的时间生态位分化（temporal segregation）特征。
研究结果：平均边缘占用率（marginal occupancy）方面，豹在冬季的平均边缘占用率最高（Ψ冬季=0.92±0.02，Ψ夏季=0.63±0.05），鬣狗则在夏季达到最高（Ψ夏季=0.93±0.03，Ψ冬季=0.78±0.03）；老虎在两个季期的平均边缘占用率均为最低（Ψ冬季=0.62±0.05，Ψ夏季=0.15±0.05）。食肉动物的共现概率（co-occurrence probability）冬季高于夏季，且当其他物种存在时，目标物种的条件占用率（conditional occupancy）普遍更高。不同环境因子对不同季期的边缘占用率与共现模式存在差异化影响。虎与豹（0.87–0.91）、虎与鬣狗（0.78–0.79）之间均存在高度的活动重叠。
研究结论：本研究发现虎与豹存在显著的空间生态位分化——二者在不同季期偏好不同生境类型，但同时表现出高度的时间活动重叠。资源可获得性（resource availability）是调控食肉动物生境选择（habitat selection）与类群关联的关键因素。鬣狗对虎的资源依赖程度显著高于豹。上述结果表明，通过适应性策略满足资源需求（resource requisition），顶级捕食者（apex-predator）之间的共存具备可行性。