Civet-izens of Balpakram: Seed fare, pattern of foraging and frugivory of civets in Subtropical and semi-evergreen forests

Abstract

Civets belong to the family Viverridae and are nocturnal and omnivorous mesopredators that also practice frugivory. Their ecological importance is exploited in the production of civet coffee, where coffee cherries ingested and defecated by the civets are collected and sold for an exorbitant amount. Their diet as frugivores enables them to play a crucial role in the seed dispersal within forest ecosystems. Endozoochory is a key seed dispersal mechanism in tropical forests, with civets (Viverridae) playing an important role by consuming fruits and dispersing intact seeds. Despite their ecological significance, little is known about how resource availability influences their foraging behaviour or how they coexist with sympatric carnivores. This study investigated the effects of fruit abundance on civet feeding behaviour, assessed seed dispersal effectiveness through seed viability, and examined coexistence mechanisms in Balpakram National Park, Meghalaya India. Fieldwork was conducted from December 2025 to March 2026 across a 25 km² area in the Mahadeo Range of Balpakram National Park, South Garo Hills. Camera trapping recorded 216 independent wildlife detections, including 50 civet captures representing the Large Indian Civet, Common Palm Civet, and Small Indian Civet. Fruit abundance was quantified around camera stations, while 33 civet scats were collected for tetrazolium-based seed viability analysis. Temporal and spatial overlap with sympatric species were analysed using kernel density estimation, the Dhat1 coefficient, and Pianka's Index. Ground fruit availability significantly increased Large Indian Civet detections, indicating opportunistic foraging on fallen fruits. Civets coexisted with sympatric species through multidimensional niche partitioning. Moderate overlap with Common Palm Civets was likely facilitated by vertical habitat segregation, high overlap with Leopard Cats was permitted by dietary differences, low overlap with Clouded Leopards suggested predator avoidance, and low spatial overlap with Wild Boars reflected differing microhabitat preferences despite dietary similarity. Microcos paniculata occurred in most scats, and seeds recovered from scats showed significantly higher viability than control seeds, highlighting the positive influence of civet dispersal on seed survival.