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Our new #OA #secr paper out in @MammBiol exploring density of a small population of leopards using multi‑session photographic‐sampling
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https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42991-020-00096-w
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#Thread
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@OxfordBiology @oxmartinschool @alexbraczkowski @PeymamM
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https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42991-020-00096-w
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#Thread
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@OxfordBiology @oxmartinschool @alexbraczkowski @PeymamM
1/ West Asian drylands host small populations of leopards, limited generally to areas with low primary productivity.
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There is no data on temporal changes of leopard size in the region
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There is no data on temporal changes of leopard size in the region
2/ We therefore applied the #SECR methodology based on photographic detections in a mountainous environment surrounded by deserts in central Iran.
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It was one of the driest known study sites of the species global distribution, with an average annual precipitation of 70 mm.
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It was one of the driest known study sites of the species global distribution, with an average annual precipitation of 70 mm.
3/ In 6724 trap nights, 8 (2012) and 5 (2016) adult leopards detected
Density (individuals/100 km2)?
2012: 1.6 (CI = 0.9–2.9)
2016: 1.0 (CI = 0.6–1.6)
Our paper along with other sparse data in arid regions, showed some of the lowest densities across leopard global range
Density (individuals/100 km2)?
2012: 1.6 (CI = 0.9–2.9)
2016: 1.0 (CI = 0.6–1.6)
Our paper along with other sparse data in arid regions, showed some of the lowest densities across leopard global range
4/
Spatial scale: male = 1.6 X females
Spatial scale for both sexes: winter = 1.5 X summer
i.e. larger movements for males, and during winter.
Spatial scale: male = 1.6 X females
Spatial scale for both sexes: winter = 1.5 X summer
i.e. larger movements for males, and during winter.
5/ Few Hs discussed for density patterns between 2012-2016
H1: Prey? No evidence of prey reduction
H2: HWC? only 7% leopard diet was livestock, so no evidence for serious HWC
H1: Prey? No evidence of prey reduction
H2: HWC? only 7% leopard diet was livestock, so no evidence for serious HWC
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H3: Poaching? Although single dead leopard found, but poaching might happen “elusively”, because only one individual was common between sampling
H4: sampling variation in statistic from sample to sample (overlapping CIs)
H3: Poaching? Although single dead leopard found, but poaching might happen “elusively”, because only one individual was common between sampling
H4: sampling variation in statistic from sample to sample (overlapping CIs)
And the sad news: the study area was known for Asiatic cheetahs
The number of cheetah detections was:
2012: 3
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2016: 0
Cheetah photo: @IranianCheetah
The number of cheetah detections was:
2012: 3
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2016: 0
Cheetah photo: @IranianCheetah
