Anthropogenic effects on spatio-temporal coexistence of a carnivore guild in the Maya Biosphere Reserve

Most carnivores adapt their spatio-temporal pattens to avoid humans and limit interspecific competition. Species that differ in their temporal activity patterns or that segregate spatially are less likely to engage in direct competition. However, interspecific interactions are context-dependent and research has shown that anthropogenic activities are often the leading factor affecting ecological context. We used camera trap data from four study sites in the Maya Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala which ranged from low to high levels of anthropogenic activities from 11,011 trap/nights at 121 sites to compare the spatio-temporal patterns among jaguars (Panthera onca), pumas (Puma concolor), ocelots (Leopardus pardalis), and gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). We performed a quantitative analysis by doing a temporal selection function to model the effects of human activities on diel behavior and a qualitative analysis to graphically inspect activity patterns among all four species across all study sites. Jaguars and pumas increased their nocturnality in areas with low-medium and medium levels of anthropogenic activities, whereas gray foxes decreased their nocturnality in areas with higher anthropogenic activities and human presence. Ocelots where the only species that remained nocturnal throughout all study sites. The study site with high anthropogenic activities showed that gray foxes segregated temporally with ocelots with a temporal overlap of Δ₄ = 0.45 which was different from the one in areas with low activity (Δ₄ = 0.65). Our findings show that carnivores modified their nocturnality in areas with higher anthropogenic disturbance and that their spatio-temporal patterns are context-and species- dependent.