Leopard distribution and abundance is unaffected by interference competition with lions

Guy A Balme, Ross T Pitman, Hugh S Robinson, Jennie R B Miller, Paul J Funston and Luke T B Hunter

Behavioral Ecology, 2017, vol. 28, issue 5, 1348-1358

Abstract: Lay SummaryWe tested the population-level effects of a dominant competitor—lions—on a subordinate—leopards. Although lions were a common cause of leopard mortality, they did not suppress or displace leopards. Population growth was similar between the 2 species and leopards did not avoid lions. Coexistence was likely possible because lions and leopards targeted different sized prey. Widespread poaching of large ungulates may increase levels of competition between lions and leopards by forcing them to target the same prey.

Keywords: carnivore demography; exploitative competition; interference competition; intraguild predation; Panthera leo; Panthera pardus; risk avoidance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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