Data and R code needed to perform species interaction occupancy analyses for Spatio-temporal Interactions Facilitate Sympatry in a Diverse Mammalian Community

Understanding mechanisms underlying coexistence among potential competitors, and between predators and prey, is a persistent challenge in community ecology. Using 6-yrs (2013–2018) of camera-trapping data and species interaction models, we investigated spatio-temporal pattern of inter- and intra-guild interspecific interactions in a diverse terrestrial mammalian community in Pakke Tiger Reserve (PTR), Northeast India. We found no evidence of spatial interaction among apex predators (tiger <i>Panthera tigris,</i> leopard <i>Panthera pardus </i>and dhole <i>Cuon alpinus</i>). However, dholes temporally separated themselves from tigers and leopards. Among small carnivores, marbled cat (<i>Pardofelis marmorata</i>) and leopard cat (<i>Prionailurus bengalensis</i>) exhibited temporal separation, whereas leopard cat overlapped spatially and temporally with other small carnivores. Herbivores exhibited neither spatial nor temporal separation with each other. All apex predators exhibited diel activity and space use patterns to overlap with their preferred prey. Our results suggest that the assembly of the diverse mammalian community of PTR is a complex process, and coexistence among potential competitors, and predators and prey is likely facilitated by several mechanisms including spatial and temporal segregation, and potentially dietary separation.<br><br>解析潜在竞争者间以及捕食者与猎物间的共存机制，是群落生态学领域长期面临的核心研究难题。本研究利用2013—2018年共计6年的红外相机陷阱（camera-trapping）数据与物种相互作用模型，针对印度东北部帕克老虎保护区（Pakke Tiger Reserve, PTR）内多样陆地哺乳动物群落的功能群（guild）间与功能群内种间相互作用的时空格局展开了调查。研究未发现顶级捕食者（apex predators，即虎<em>Panthera tigris</em>、豹<em>Panthera pardus</em>与豺<em>Cuon alpinus</em>）间存在空间相互作用的证据。不过豺类会在时间维度上与虎、豹形成生态位分化。在小型食肉动物类群中，云猫（<em>Pardofelis marmorata</em>）与豹猫（<em>Prionailurus bengalensis</em>）呈现出时间生态位分离，而豹猫则在空间与时间维度上均与其他小型食肉动物存在活动重叠。草食动物类群之间既未表现出空间分化，也未出现时间生态位分离。所有顶级捕食者的昼夜活动节律与空间利用模式，均与其偏好捕食的猎物存在活动重叠。 本研究结果表明，帕克老虎保护区多样哺乳动物群落的组装是一个复杂过程，潜在竞争者之间以及捕食者与猎物间的共存，可能通过多种机制得以实现，包括空间与时间生态位分化，以及潜在的食性分离。