Free-ranging livestock altered the spatiotemporal behavior of the endangered North Chinese leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis) and its prey and intensified human–leopard conflicts  

作　　者：Mingzhang LIU Yiqing WANG Fan XIA Hongliang BU Yanlin LIU Xiaoli SHEN Sheng LI 

机构地区：[1]Wildlife Ecology&Conservation Lab,School of Life Sciences,Institute of Ecology,Peking University,Beijing,China [2]Chinese Felid Conservation Alliance,Beijing,China [3]State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change,Institute of Botany,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing,China

出　　处：《Integrative Zoology》2023年第1期143-156,共14页整合动物学（英文版）

摘　　要：Widespread distribution of livestock in the natural habitats of large carnivores may negatively impact carnivore populations by reducing wild prey availability and increasing human–carnivore conflicts.In this study,we used camera-trapping data collected in the temperate forests of the Taihang Mountains in North China during 2016–2019 to examine whether and how free-ranging cattle affected habitat use and Diel activity patterns of the endangered North Chinese leopard(Panthera pardus japonensis)and its 2 wild prey species,Siberian roe deer(Capreolus pygargus),and wild boar(Sus scrofa).Residents were also interviewed to record livestock depredation events by leopards during 2015–2019.We found that roe deer spatially avoided sites frequented by cattle,but wild boar did not.In the growing seasons,leopards shared habitats with cattle and tended to increase their diurnal activities where cattle were present.All 3 study species exhibitedfine-scale spatial-temporal segregation to cattle.Leopards selectively preyed on calves over adult cattle and livestock depredation frequency was positively correlated with the detection rates of cattle and wild prey,but not that of leopard.Thesefindings not only show that through behavioral adaption large carnivores and their ungulate prey may persist under livestock disturbance,but also highlight how important proper livestock management is for conserving North Chinese leopards in this region.To enhance livestock management and mitigate human–leopard conflicts,we recommend specific actions,such as better guarding of free-ranging cattle or adoption of a captive farming system.

关 键 词：camera-trap diel activity pattern grazing management human–wildlife conflict large carnivore 

分 类 号：O17[理学—数学]