Co‐occurrence and interactions among sympatric wildlife: Insights from a multi‐species occupancy study in Wanglang National Nature Reserve, China

AbstractSpecies with sympatric distribution influence ecosystem dynamics and are impacted by the presence of other co‐existing species. Understanding how environmental factors and interspecific interactions influence the co‐occurrence of sympatric species is vital for comprehending the assembly of biological communities and the processes driving ecosystem regulation and development. This study investigated the co‐occurrence patterns and interspecific interactions among three species—the Siberian weasel (Martes flavigula), yellow weasel (Mustela sibirica), and Temminck's tragopan (Tragopan temminckii) in the Wanglang National Nature Reserve, China. The study of the interspecific relationships among these three species is of great significance as it can provide in‐depth insights into the complex ecological mechanisms within the ecosystem. It helps us better understand how these species interact with each other, which in turn affects the overall stability and functionality of the ecosystem. Utilizing monitoring data from 50 camera traps deployed between 2011 and 2015, combined with quadrat surveys, a multi‐species occupancy model was applied to assess the influence of various environmental factors on their occupancy. The results indicated that M. flavigula exhibited the lowest marginal occupancy probability (Ψ = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.18–0.55), followed by M. sibirica (Ψ = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.18–0.54), while T. temminckii displayed the highest value (Ψ = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.27–0.59). The top model revealed that the co‐occurrence probability of M. flavigula with M. sibirica and with T. temminckii both increases as forest canopy density rises. Additionally, the co‐occurrence probability between M. flavigula and T. temminckii remained consistently high, likely influenced by other wildlife interactions and anthropogenic factors. These findings enhance our understanding of the co‐occurrence patterns of these species and provide valuable insights for future research on species interactions and long‐term ecosystem sustainability.