The effects of aridity on land use, biodiversity and dietary breadth in leopards

摘要: Abstract Global distributions of most terrestrial large mammals have been dramatically reduced through the loss and fragmentation natural habitat. These impacts are likely to be intensified by effects global climate change. Here we use two free roaming leopard (Panthera pardus) populations explore intersecting influences climatic conditions land on feeding ecology a carnivore. We predicted that greater aridity would influence use, this in turn species richness consequently diet. compared diet, mammal patterns topographically similar regions south-western South Africa, Boland, mesic temperate region Little Karoo, semi-arid located approximately 200 km east. The Boland has retained only ∼33% at low elevations, over 90% Karoo. Extensive camera trap surveys both revealed far lower (22 species) than Karoo (51 species). Leopard diet differed significantly between regions; leopards fed fewer (n = 15), smaller prey (ranging from 3–25 kg) associated specifically with mountain By contrast, had broader range (n = 21), were able access larger (up 138 kg). results suggest significant anthropogenic patterns, these changes reflected community, However, less intensive also increased potential for conflict people. Increased as result change may thus present opportunities enhance conservation status free-roaming carnivores, but increase human-wildlife carnivores recolonize previously transformed areas.