Camera trap reveals the co‐occurrence patterns of two sympatric muntjac species in southern Anhui Province, China: No spatial segregation

• Published in: Ecology and evolution 2021-12, Vol.11 (24), p.17801-17809
• Main Authors: Deng, Shuaitao, Li, Jiaqi, Qu, Yashu, He, Jun, Liu, Kai, Xue, Hui, Cui, Peng, Ruan, Xiangdong, Wu, Hailong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: camera trap; Cameras; Coexistence; Competition; co‐occurrence patterns; Ecological effects; Ecological research; Elevation; Endemic species; Environmental restoration; Food resources; Forests; Geographical distribution; Habitat preferences; Habitats; Microhabitats; Mountainous areas; Muntiacus crinifrons; Muntiacus reevesi; Occupancy; occupancy modeling; Rare species; Resource utilization; Sympatric populations; Ungulates; Vegetation
• ISSN: 2045-7758; 2045-7758
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8307

The competitive relationship and coexistence pattern among close related species have long been one of the hot issues in ecological research. Interspecies interactions can exert important influences on the local distribution of rare species. Black muntjac Muntiacus crinifrons is an endemic species to eastern China, currently restricted to limited regions. In contrast, Chinese muntjac Muntiacus reevesi is the most common and widespread deer in southern China. Both species co‐occur in southern Anhui and western Zhejiang Province. Little is known about the interaction of these two sympatric‐related species. In this study, to investigate the site use determinants and co‐occurrence pattern of the two sympatric muntjac species, we conducted a camera trap survey across about 250 km2 in mountainous area of southern Anhui Province, China. We adopted a multistep approach to incorporate habitat preferences while modeling occupancy and detection. We found that the two species did not separate along elevation gradient (range from 400 m to 1,400 m) as described in previous studies. Results of single‐species occupancy models indicated that elevation had positive effects on the site use of both species, while slope had an opposite influence on their site use. Positive effects of elevation on the site use implied that both species try to avoid human interference at low elevations. Significant negative effect of slope on the site use of black muntjac suggested that the species prefer habitat with gentle slope and avoided steep. Co‐occurrence models and species interaction factors provided evidence that the two muntjac species had an independent occupancy (ψBM CM = ψBM cm, SIF = 1) and exhibited a positive species interaction in detection probability (pBM