Role of top predators in shaping carnivore communities.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to explore sympatric carnivore in higher trophic interaction with lower trophic carnivore within the guild. The selection of site was based on this requirement. The core of well managed tiger reserve where impact of anthropogenic effect (encroachment, livestock, domestic dogs), if not prevented, were limited. The sampling design oriented for tiger initially was updated for other carnivore sampling. The small grid size (1x1) proved suitable for photo capturing smaller carnivores. In this study an attempt was made to winnow the carnivore guild according to body size. The limitation was carnivore community composition differed within the same central Indian landscape. In Bor, major representation was by Jungle cat and limited photo capture of other meso-carnivores. Similarly, honey badger was detected largely in NSTR followed by Melghat. A uniform and grid based camera trap cannot necessarily account for capture of all small carnivores due to habitat and terrain preferences. Although the single season occupancy analysis did not show significant relation with any habitat characteristics like terrain, human disturbance and forest cover but avoidance between trophics was observed at patch level. The composition of a patch is mostly not used to understand the occurrence of animals. In a protected area dominated by deciduous forest type presents substantially uniform landcover type.