Abstract: Investigating the spatiotemporal distribution of sympatric species with similar ecological niches is a central topic in community ecology. This study was conducted in Dalaoling National Nature Reserve from June 2019 to October 2024 using camera trap technology to survey wildlife. During the investigation period, a total of 763 camera trap sites were deployed, accumulating 91 247 camera trap days and yielding 68 616 independent valid wildlife detections. We then applied kernel density estimation (KDE） and the coefficient of overlap to compare the temporal niche relationships of five mesocarnivores within the region. Among all species surveyed, the Chinese ferret-badger (Melogale moschata, RAI=5. 85) had the highest relative abundance index (RAI), while the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis, RAI=1. 22) showed the lowest. Among the five carnivorous species, the hog badger (Arctonyx collaris) exhibited a multimodal daily activity pattern, while the masked palm civet (Paguma larvata), Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica), ferret-badger, and leopard cat showed bimodal activity rhythms. Moreover, the night-time relative abundance index (I_NRA) of the five species throughout the year is lower than the judgment standard for day night habits (13/24), indicating that they have strong nighttime activity characteristics. Overlap analysis revealed that the masked palm civet and Chinese ferret-badger had highly overlapping daily activity curves (Δ=0. 96) with no significant difference (P=0. 397). By contrast, every other pairwise comparison showed varying degrees of divergence in daily activity rhythms, all statistically significant (P<0. 001). In addition, the five species exhibited high seasonal overlap in their activity curves, with no significant difference in cold versus warm seasons for the leopard cat (P=0. 360) or the Siberian weasel (P=0. 201). At the monthly activity scale, significant differences in activity intensity were observed among the five species (P<0. 001). All species showed varying degrees of increased activity levels from March to May, while the masked palm civet and hog badger exhibited significantly lower winter activity compared to the other three species. The study demonstrates that these five carnivores in Dalaoling National Nature Reserve effectively mitigate direct interspecific competition through differentiation in daily activity rhythms, variations in monthly activity intensity, and seasonal dynamics, thereby facilitating sympatric coexistence. This research help elucidate the temporal niche relationships and underlying coexistence mechanisms among medium-sized sympatric carnivores in the Dalaoling region, providing a scientific foundation for future conservation and management strategies in this area.

Key words: Camera-trapping, Mesocarnivore, Activity rhythm, Temporal niche

摘要： 研究群落中具有相似生态位的同域物种的时空分布特征，是群落生态学的重要研究方向之一。本研究于2019年6月至2024年10月，在大老岭国家级自然保护区采用红外相机技术开展野生动物资源调查。调查期间，共布设763个红外相机位点，红外相机累计工作天数为91 247 d，拍摄到68 616张野生动物独立有效照片。采用核密度估计法和重叠系数对该区域内5种中型食肉动物的时间生态位关系进行比较研究。结果表明：（1）种群相对多度指数（relative abundance index，RAI）最高的物种为鼬獾（Melogale moschata，RAI=5.85)，最低为豹猫（Prionailurus bengalensis，RAI=1.22)；（2） 5种食肉动物中，猪獾（Arctonyx collaris）的日活动曲线为多峰型，花面狸（Paguma larvata)、黄鼬（Mustela sibirica)、鼬獾和豹猫则为双峰型，活动高峰基本均在夜间，并且5种食肉动物全年的夜间相对丰度指数（I_NRA）均小于昼夜习性的判定标准（13/24），表明它们具有强烈的夜间活动特性；（3）重叠分析结果显示，花面狸与鼬獾的日活动曲线存在高度重叠（Δ=0.96）且无显著差异（P=0.397），而其他任意两个物种之间均表现出不同程度的日活动节律分化，且差异显著（P < 0.001），其次5种食肉动物的季节性日活动节律均为高度重叠，豹猫（P=0.360）和黄鼬（P=0.201）在冷暖季的活动曲线无显著差异；（4）在月活动尺度上，5种食肉动物活动强度差异显著（P < 0.001），3—5月活动水平均有不同程度的上升，花面狸和猪獾在冬季的活动水平明显低于其他3种食肉动物。研究显示，大老岭国家级自然保护区内5种食肉动物通过日活动节律分化、月活动强度差异以及季节性动态变化等方式，有效减少了直接的种间竞争，从而促进同域共存。本研究初步揭示了大老岭地区同域中型食肉动物的时间生态位关系及其潜在的共存机制，为今后该地区的保护与管理提供科学依据。

关键词: 红外相机, 中型食肉动物, 活动节律, 时间生态位