Carnivore Coexistence Mechanisms in Multi-Predator Systems Under Resource Competition

Abstract

The problem of coexistence among several carnivore species when resources are limited and vary is a key question in community ecology. Competitive exclusion can occur in multi-predator systems, but this is alleviated by ecological or behavioural means. The paper examines the coexistence mechanism of sympatric carnivores based on spatial, temporal, and dietary niche separation under resource competition. The camera traps (n = 140 stations), GPS telemetry (n = 35 individuals across four species), and scat analysis (n = 360 samples) were used to collect field data over 12 months in a semi-arid ecosystem. The findings indicate profound niche differentiation across all three axes. The values of the spatial overlap indices (Pianka index) ranged from 0.42 to 0.71, indicating moderate habitat segregation, and the values of the temporal activity overlap (Δ coefficient) ranged from 0.41 to 0.67, indicating partial temporal segregation. Dietary analysis revealed that the overlap of the prey among the species was small (Schoener D =0.36-0.52), and the carnivory was more dietary specialized (p=0.01). Generalized linear mixed models revealed that prey availability (β = 0.74, p = 0.001) and the presence of dominant predators (β = -0.62, p = 0.003) significantly affected habitat utilization. These results show that multidimensional niche partitioning helps coexistence and reduces direct competition despite resource scarcity. Behavioural plasticity and adaptive foraging also further increase species persistence. The research emphasizes the need for habitat and prey diversity to sustain stable carnivore groups. In general, this article presents quantitative data showing that coexistence in multi-predator systems is regulated by a balance between competition and ecological differentiation, with implications for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management.