Spatio temporal overlap of dominant rodents and their predators in desert steppe of Qilian M ountains
[Objective]Understanding the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of rodents and their predators is essential for exploring the interspecific relationships.[Method]In this study,22 infrared cameras were set up in desert steppe of Qilian Mountains from December 2020 to January 2022 to capture independent and reliable pho-tographic data of animals.The dominant rodents in the study area were Rhombomys opimus and Meriones meridi-anus,with their natural predators being Otocolobus manul and Vulpes vulpes.The activity patterns and spatial distri-butions of these four target species were analyzed based on their independent photographic data.[Result]1)Otocolo-bus manual was active all year round,with peaks in activity intensity occurring in May and October.Vulpes vulpes showed higher activity in colder seasons and lower in warmer seasons.Meriones meridianus had higher activity inten-sity in March and October;while Rhombomys opimus was mainly active from December to May of the following year.2)Meriones meridianus and Vulpes vulpes were primarily nocturnal,while Rhombomys opimus and Otocolobus manul were primarily diurnal.3)The overlap in activity rhythm was highest between Otocolobus manul and the Mer-iones meridianus,followed by Vulpes vulpes and Meriones meridianus,Otocolobus manul and Rhombomys opimus,and Vulpes vulpes and Rhombomys opimus.4)The spatial overlap coefficient was the highest between Otocolobus manul and Rhombomys opimus(0.85),followed by Vulpes vulpes and Rhombomys opimus(0.71),Otocolobus manul and Meriones meridianus(0.69),and Vulpes vulpes and Meriones meridianus(0.68).[Conclusion]The spa-tiotemporal overlap between Otocolobus manul and Meriones meridianus,as well as Rhombomys opimus,was higher than that between Vulpes vulpes and Meriones meridianus or Rhombomys opimus.
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