Dietary and temporal partitioning facilitate sympatric coexistence of
carnivore assemblage in the Everest region
Abstract
Carnivore communities are extremely important for maintaining the
structure/function of ecosystems. Exploring the carnivore coexistence
can provide the data needed for the development of effective
conservation strategies for endangered species. We aimed to (1) reveal
the dietary composition of a carnivore community that inhabits the
Everest region by analyzing molecular diets, (2) assess activity
patterns by analyzing camera-trapping records. Dietary analysis revealed
22 food MOTUs of 7 orders and 2 classes. Snow leopard and wolf mainly
preyed on ungulate mammals (%PR = 61%, 50%), while lynx and red fox
mainly consumed small mammals (%PR = 62%, 76%). Higher dietary
overlap (Pianka’s index = 0.95 ~ 0.97) was observed
between similar-sized predators (snow leopard versus wolf, lynx versus
fox); and there was no dietary difference between them (P >
0.05). Lower dietary overlap (Pianka’s index = 0.53 ~
0.67) was observed between predators with large body size difference
(snow leopard versus lynx, snow leopard versus red fox, wolf versus
fox); and dietary difference was significant (P < 0.01),
indicating the existence of dietary partitioning. In activity pattern
analysis, predators exhibited higher temporal overlap with the more
frequently consumed prey species, indicating that predator activity can
be regulated by prey availability. Snow leopard and wolf had the higher
activity overlap (Δ = 0.87) suggesting the lack of temporal
partitioning. Red fox had the lower coefficients of overlap with snow
leopard and wolf (Δ = 0.60, Δ = 0.59), suggesting that fox temporally
avoid snow leopard and wolf slightly. We revealed the coexistence
mechanisms of a carnivore community in the Everest region, by confirming
that sympatric coexistence was facilitated by both dietary and temporal
partitioning. These results will help to increase understanding of
carnivore communities, and provide the scientific foundation for the
conservation of threatened species in the Mount Everest region.