@article {163316, title = {Three{\textquoteright}s Company: Human infrastructure and diminishing savannas accentuate meso-carnivore interactions in a shared landscape of western India}, journal = {Biological Conservation}, volume = {313}, year = {2026}, month = { January 2026}, pages = {111618}, type = {Research Article}, abstract = {

Human modifications to natural landscapes negatively impact carnivore communities. Some species may yet benefit from habitat modifications by way of resource subsidisation or reduced competition, while trading-off heightened risks. We examined a meso-carnivore community comprising golden jackal\ Canis aureus, jungle cat\ Felis chaus, Indian fox\ Vulpes bengalensis\ and desert cat\ Felis lybica ornata\ in a semi-arid landscape of Kachchh, India. First, we mapped their potential habitats and gauged the extent of fragmentation as a measure of vulnerability. Using camera-trapping and indirect sign surveys within an occupancy modelling framework, we then examined species{\textquoteright} space use and interactions, incorporating the potential mediating influence of anthropogenic factors. Finally, we assessed temporal and fine-scale spatio-temporal co-occurrence. The most fragmented native habitat, open savanna, was positively associated with the occurrence of three of the four species. We found some evidence for body size-based dominance shaping patterns of species{\textquoteright} spatial overlap. Spatially co-occurring species also showed temporal overlaps; temporally overlapping species further seemed to aggregate at fine spatio-temporal scales. Human disturbance mediated species interactions, wherein species pairs tended to co-occur less frequently in human-modified areas (e.g., metalled roads). Rectifying policy surrounding savanna habitats informed by species space use and interactions and affording them protection may help preserve species, prevent potential competition-driven species loss and homogenisation of the biotic communities in semi-arid landscapes.

}, keywords = {Carnivores, Free-ranging dogs, Habitat use, Human impacts, Interspecific interactions, Shared landscapes, Tropics}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111618}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000632072500655X?via\%3Dihub}, author = {Divyajyoti Ganguly and Arjun Srivathsa and Divya Vasudev and Uma Ramakrishnan} }