Spatial heterogeneity of habitat selection of large carnivores and their
ungulate prey in proximity to roads
Abstract
Geographic heterogeneous of both species-environment and inter-specific
relationships play important roles in shaping the ecological
characteristics of wildlife habitat selection and population
distribution. However, how geographic heterogeneous affect the
distribution of a target species in predator-prey systems, especially in
human-dominated landscapes, is still unclear. Based on line transect
survey and monitoring network, this study examined the spatial
heterogeneity of habitat selection of Amur tiger and leopard, as large
carnivores, and their main ungulate prey, wild boar and roe deer, in
Northeast China, by applying logistic Geographically Weighted Regression
(GWR) in conjunction with global logistic regression (GLM). Our results
suggested that, the geographic heterogeneity effects of habitat factors
on the habitat selection of target species are manifested in the
intensity and trends of the heterogeneous effects. Furthermore, ungulate
prey exhibit preferences for particular types of habitats, subsequently
promoting the distribution patterns of large felids. Our findings
highlight the significance of spatial non-stationarity in ungulate prey
habitat selections, and this may be the key to promoting large
carnivores adapting to habitats around roads and reducing habitat
isolation and reduction caused by road avoidance of ungulates.