IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Kittle, A.; Watson, A. | |
| The Distribution, Ecology and Behaviour of Leopards in Sri Lanka: Does the Absence of Intra-Guild Competition Matter? | |
| 2007 Conference Proceeding | |
Intra-guild competition is a wide-ranging phenomenon that can strongly impact the ecology and evolution of carnivores, particularly the subordinate species in an interaction. Understanding how this competition affects the distribution, population structure, space use and behaviour of top predators is vital for effective species and landscape level management. In Sri Lanka, the endangered leopard (_Panthera pardus kotiya_) has been the top predator for at least 5 000 - 10 000 years, providing a rare opportunity to investigate the ecological ramifications of the long-term absence of intra-guild competition. We used individual observations, camera traps and spoor analysis to investigate island-wide distribution, and study the ecology and behaviour of leopards in the arid-zone Ruhuna National Park (RNP). Leopards are widely distributed in Sri Lanka, including protected and unprotected areas. The RNP density (17.9/100 km2) and male home range size (22.5 km2; n=3) are consistent with those of populations where intra-guild competition is present, and together with small female core areas (1.58 km2; n=4), appear primarily influenced by prey density. Leopards here are predominantly solitary and nocturnal, like most populations undergoing intra-guild competition. Kills were irregularly cached in trees, consistent with areas with few or absent larger competitors, or where the dominant competitor is a competent climber. |
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