Effects of human disturbances on wildlife behaviour and consequences for predator-prey overlap in Southeast Asia

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Feb. 19, 2024

Some animal species shift their activity towards increased nocturnality in disturbed habitats to avoid predominantly diurnal humans. This may alter diel overlap among species, a precondition most predation and competition interactions that structure food webs. Here, using camera trap data from 10 tropical forest landscapes, we find hyperdiverse Southeast Asian wildlife communities peak early mornings intact dawn dusk (increased crepuscularity). Our results indicate anthropogenic disturbances drive opposing behavioural adaptations based on rarity, size feeding guild, with more the 59 rarer specialists' diurnality for medium-sized generalists, less larger hunted species. Species turnover also played role underpinning community- guild-level responses, associated markedly detections of generalists predators. However, predator-prey or competitor guilds does not vary disturbance, suggesting net be conserved.

Language: Английский

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Large‐scale and long‐term wildlife research and monitoring using camera traps: a continental synthesis

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 17, 2025

ABSTRACT Camera traps are widely used in wildlife research and monitoring, so it is imperative to understand their strengths, limitations, potential for increasing impact. We investigated a decade of use cameras (2012–2022) with case study on Australian terrestrial vertebrates using multifaceted approach. ( i ) synthesised information from literature review; ii conducted an online questionnaire 132 professionals; iii hosted in‐person workshop 28 leading experts representing academia, non‐governmental organisations (NGOs), government; iv mapped camera trap usage based all sources. predicted that the last would have shown: exponentially sampling effort, continuation trends up 2012; analytics shifted naive presence/absence capture rates towards hierarchical modelling accounts imperfect detection, thereby improving quality outputs inferences occupancy, abundance, density; broader scales terms multi‐species, multi‐site multi‐year studies. However, results showed effort has reached plateau, publication only modestly. Users reported reaching saturation point images could be processed by humans time complex analyses academic writing. There were strong taxonomic geographic biases medium–large mammals (>500 g) forests along Australia's southeastern coastlines, reflecting proximity major cities. Regarding analytical choices, bias‐prone indices still accounted ~50% this was consistent across user groups. Multi‐species, multiple‐year studies rare, largely driven hesitancy around collaboration data sharing. no repository Atlas Living Australia (ALA) dominant sharing tabular occurrence records. ALA presence‐only thus unsuitable creating detection histories absences, inhibiting modelling. Workshop discussions identified pressing need enhance efficiency, scale management outcomes, proposal Wildlife Observatory (WildObs). To encourage standards sharing, WildObs should promote metadata collection app; create tagged image facilitate artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) computer vision space; address identification bottleneck via AI/ML‐powered image‐processing platforms; commons suitable modelling; v provide capacity building tools Our review highlights while investments monitoring biodiversity position global leader context, realising requires paradigm shift best practices collecting, curating, analysing ‘Big Data’. findings framework broad applicability outside meet conservation objectives ranging local scales. This articulates country/continental observatory approach also international collaborative networks.

Language: Английский

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The rise of hyperabundant native generalists threatens both humans and nature

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 98(5), P. 1829 - 1844

Published: June 13, 2023

ABSTRACT In many disturbed terrestrial landscapes, a subset of native generalist vertebrates thrives. The population trends these disturbance‐tolerant species may be driven by multiple factors, including habitat preferences, foraging opportunities (including crop raiding or human refuse), lower mortality when their predators are persecuted (the ‘human shield’ effect) and reduced competition due to declines disturbance‐sensitive species. A pronounced elevation in the abundance wildlife can drive numerous cascading impacts on food webs, biodiversity, vegetation structure people coupled human–natural systems. There is also concern for increased risk zoonotic disease transfer humans domestic animals from with high pathogen loads as proximity increases. Here we use field data 58 landscapes document supra‐regional phenomenon hyperabundance community dominance Southeast Asian wild pigs macaques. These two groups were chosen prime candidates capable reaching they edge adapted, gregarious social structure, omnivorous diets, rapid reproduction tolerance proximity. Compared intact interior forests, densities degraded forests 148% 87% higher boar macaques, respectively. >60% oil palm coverage, pig‐tailed macaque estimated abundances 337% 447% than <1% respectively, suggesting marked demographic benefits accrued calorie‐rich subsidies. was extreme forest >20% cover where pig accounted >80% independent camera trap detections, leaving <20% other 85 mammal >1 kg considered. Establishing macaques imperative since linked fauna flora local ecosystems, health, economics (i.e., losses). severity potential negative effects motivate control efforts achieve ecosystem integrity, health conservation objectives. Our review concludes that rise generalists mediated specific types degradation, which influences ecology natural areas, creating both positive detrimental ecosystems society.

Language: Английский

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The mass mortality of Asia's native pigs induced by African swine fever

Wildlife Letters, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 1(1), P. 8 - 14

Published: March 1, 2023

Abstract Asia's wild pigs are ecosystem engineers and a key food for predators people. The arrival of African swine fever (ASF) in 2018 induced near‐100% fatality domestic decimated the Chinese pork industry 2020 but outcomes have been delayed unclear. Here we report on mass mortality native boar ( Sus scrofa ) Peninsular Malaysia. ASF was confirmed at our long‐term study site February 2022 carcasses increased >100‐fold June compared to prior years. Camera trapping revealed an 87% decline activity five surveys. Wild boars retired old birthing nests pairs animals died next each other open. Similar results being anecdotally reported across region with immense repercussions suspected ecology conservation. We urge rapid research response take advantage this unique natural experiment.

Language: Английский

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Inferring predator–prey interactions from camera traps: A Bayesian co‐abundance modeling approach

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 12(12)

Published: Dec. 1, 2022

Abstract Predator–prey dynamics are a fundamental part of ecology, but directly studying interactions has proven difficult. The proliferation camera trapping enabled the collection large datasets on wildlife, researchers face hurdles inferring from observational data. Recent advances in hierarchical co‐abundance models infer species while accounting for two species' detection probabilities, shared responses to environmental covariates, and propagate uncertainty throughout entire modeling process. However, current approaches remain unsuitable interacting whose natural densities differ by an order magnitude have contrasting such as predator–prey interactions, which introduce zero inflation overdispersion count histories. Here, we developed Bayesian N‐mixture model that is suitable interactions. We accounted excessive zeros histories using informed zero‐inflated Poisson distribution abundance formula including random effect per sampling unit occasion probability formula. demonstrate with these modifications outperform alternative approaches, improve goodness‐of‐fit, overcome parameter convergence failures. highlight its utility 20 10 tropical forest landscapes Southeast Asia estimate four relationships between tigers, clouded leopards, muntjac sambar deer. Tigers had negative abundance, providing support top‐down regulation, leopards positive deer, likely driven unmodelled covariates like hunting. This approach quantify widely applicable across species, ecosystems, may be useful forecasting cascading impacts following widespread predator declines. Taken together, this facilitates nuanced mechanistic understanding food‐web ecology.

Language: Английский

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Mammalian predator co‐occurrence affected by prey and habitat more than competitor presence at multiple time scales

Ecological Monographs, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 95(1)

Published: Jan. 30, 2025

Abstract The behavior and abundance of sympatric predators can be affected by a complex dominance hierarchy. strength antagonistic interactions in predator communities is difficult to study remains poorly understood for many assemblages. Predators directly indirectly influence the broader ecosystem, so identifying relative importance competition, prey, habitat shaping has broad conservation management implications. We investigated space use among five species (black bear [ Ursus americanus ], bobcat Lynx rufus coyote Canis latrans mountain lion Puma concolor gray wolf lupus ]) across three temporal scales northern Idaho, USA. used camera trap data test whether potentially subordinate spatially avoided dominant how prey availability influenced those relationships. found few instances avoiding only at finest scale our analyses. Instead, features generally patterns coarser whereas competitor presence finer scales. Co‐occurrence was positively associated between coyotes bobcats timescales mesopredators apex timescales. Bobcats lions temporarily delayed sites recently visited black bears, respectively. And all sooner following detection areas with higher abundances (primarily white‐tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus ]). Our results suggest attraction shared habitats resources community more than avoidance competitors. propose that effects interspecific on distributions were most evident because their trophic position requires balancing risks rewards predators, other mesopredators. In addition, relatively high densities common source likely facilitated spatial coexistence this community. demonstrates value simultaneously assessing multiple different spatiotemporal discern relationships within guild.

Language: Английский

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Integrating Human and Wildlife Dynamics in Co‐Occurrence Modelling

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT In shared environments, where different species interact depending on overlapping resources, complex interspecific interactions emerge, with human activities impacting these dynamics and influencing wildlife abundance distribution. the Alps, presence of multiple ungulates, such as roe deer red deer, a predator, wolf, creates web spatial behavioral in an area farming, hunting tourism have persisted over time, recently experiencing substantial growth. Accounting for interactions, we modelled co‐occurrence probabilities wolves Maritime Alps using data derived from 60 camera traps. We applied multi‐species occupancy models to investigate (i) role co‐occurrences explaining model across landscape, (ii) (iii) potential effect season detection probabilities. Among identified species, reported highest frequency recorded events were most widespread species. provided important evidence dependence, revealing that pairwise among had greater impact than only considering individual environmental effects. documented setting cameras trails increased likelihood detecting but decreased ungulates. Most importantly, significantly reduced capturing while having no either or wolves. Our results confirmed relevance including prey, predators, whole. Since sharing habitat makes defining predator–prey mechanisms, our insights are particularly relevant solutions optimize human‐wildlife coexistence, especially highly anthropogenic system Europe.

Language: Английский

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Binturong ecology and conservation in pristine, fragmented and degraded tropical forests

Oryx, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 10

Published: July 4, 2023

Abstract The persistence of seed-dispersing animals in degraded habitats could be critical for ensuring the long-term conservation value and restoration forests. This is particularly important Southeast Asia, where > 70% remaining forest areas are within 1 km a edge, many (e.g. logged). We synthesized information on habitat associations binturong Arctictis , large, semi-arboreal, frugivorous civet one most seed dispersers region, especially figs ( Ficus spp). adopted multiscale approach by employing ensemble species distribution modelling from presence-only records, assessing landscape-scale variation detection rates published camera-trap studies using hierarchical occupancy to assess local (i.e. within-landscape) patterns observed 20 new surveys. Contrary prior reports that binturongs strongly associated with intact forests, was equally present forests near edges sufficient cover maintained (> 40% 20-km radius). also tolerates moderate incursions oil palm plantations (< 20% area radius covered plantations). relative resilience degradation part because behavioural adaptations towards increased nocturnal activity. These results support notion key can persist maintain their ecological function

Language: Английский

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Mid-sized felids threatened by habitat degradation in Southeast Asia

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 283, P. 110103 - 110103

Published: May 23, 2023

Deforestation and poaching in Southeast Asia have driven a stark decline the region's apex predators, including large felids like tigers leopards. Meanwhile, some small thrive human-modified landscapes. The extent to which medium-sized cope with anthropogenic disturbances remains poorly understood, but this information is crucial for conservation of threatened key trophic interactions that maintain high-diversity food webs. Here, we use largest camera-trap dataset from conduct multi-scale synthesis habitat associations two cryptic felids, Near-Threatened Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) Endangered bay badia). Unlike many mesopredators, both species exhibited poor tolerance degradation (i.e. selective logging, edges or fragmentation). was positively associated forest patch size elevation, negatively degraded forests, human population density. Our suitability model suggests ongoing fragmentation critically reduced suitable cat, giving reason suspect calls revision species' IUCN Red List status Vulnerable. There also evidence may be more widely distributed Borneo than previously thought, areas currently by deforestation. results indicate face high risk becoming extirpated remaining forests. In where predators been extirpated, these charismatic mid-sized can become umbrella protect forests biodiversity value.

Language: Английский

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Shifting shadows: Assessing the habitat and climate change response of binturong (Arctictis binturong) in the conservation landscape of the Asian continent

Ecological Informatics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 85, P. 102941 - 102941

Published: Dec. 8, 2024

Language: Английский

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