A leopard's favourite spots: habitat preference and population density of leopards in a semi-arid biodiversity hotspot

Mann, Gareth K H; O'Riain, M Justin; Parker, Daniel M

Title: A leopard's favourite spots: habitat preference and population density of leopards in a semi-arid biodiversity hotspot
Creator: Mann, Gareth K H
Creator: O'Riain, M Justin
Creator: Parker, Daniel M
Date Issued: 2020
Date: 2020
Type: text
Type: article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148584
Identifier: vital:38752
Identifier: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2020.104218
Description: Leopards (Panthera pardus) are the only free-ranging large predators to still occur naturally throughout much of Africa, but are vulnerable to habitat loss, ecosystem degradation and persecution. We used a systematic camera trap survey covering an area of ∼3100 km2 in the Little Karoo, a semi-arid biodiversity hotspot in South Africa, to assess the impacts of land use and habitat type on leopard density. Camera data were supplemented by opportunistic scat collection to produce a habitat suitability model. We used a habitat suitability model to inform spatially explicit capture-recapture models used to estimate population density. We recorded 152 independent photographs of 27 individually recognizable leopards at 54 camera stations and collected scats from a further 76 locations. Our habitat suitability model showed that primary productivity and vegetation type were the best predictors of leopard habitat suitability. Our best performing population density model allowed for detection and movement of individuals to vary according to sex, and estimated population density at 1.26 (SE ± 0.25) leopards/100 km2.
Format: 7 pages
Format: pdf
Language: English
Relation: Journal of Arid Environments
Relation: Mann, G.K., O'Riain, M.J. and Parker, D.M., 2020. A leopard's favourite spots: Habitat preference and population density of leopards in a semi-arid biodiversity hotspot. Journal of Arid Environments, 181, p.104218.
Relation: Journal of Arid Environments volume 181 number p.104218 October 2020 0140-1963
Rights: Publisher
Rights: Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Elsevier Terms and Conditions Statement (https://www.elsevier.com/legal/elsevier-website-terms-and-conditions)

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Parker, Daniel M (Prof)

SDG 15. Life On Land

RU Department of Zoology and Entomology

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