Mariana Almaraz Alandia, Andean Carnivore Conservation Program

Like other large carnivores, bears are particularly vulnerable to habitat loss and fragmentation, processes that have intensified in human-dominated landscapes. Although studies on intraguild dynamics are essential for conserving carnivore communities, they remain scarce in regions like South America. The Andean Carnivore Conservation Program (ACCP) has been monitoring Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus) in the inter-Andean dry forest of San Lorenzo, Tarija, Bolivia, one of the last remnants of this ecosystem in the country and an area increasingly affected by human activities. The program has recorded other carnivore species, including puma (Puma concolor), one of South America’s largest felids, and two small felids, margay (Leopardus wiedii) and Geoffroy’s cat (L. geoffroyi). Using camera trap data, we assessed temporal and spatial niche partitioning between the Andean bear and these three felid species. Temporal interactions were evaluated through activity patterns overlap, while spatial interactions were examined using single and multi-species occupancy models incorporating environmental and anthropogenic covariates. Margay and Geoffroy’s cat, both primarily nocturnal, had the lowest activity overlap with the mainly diurnal Andean bear, whereas puma exhibited a moderate temporal overlap. Spatially, the only significant interaction was that of Andean bear with puma when considering the presence of other small and medium-sized carnivores, causing a slight decrease in their spatial co-occurrence. Andean bears were not sensitive to any of the anthropogenic disturbances considered in this study, suggesting a degree of tolerance within this heterogeneous landscape. Overall, our results indicate that temporal segregation and limited spatial avoidance may facilitate coexistence among carnivores in anthropized ecosystems. This is the first study analysing the spatial and temporal dynamics for a carnivore guild composed by a bear species, a large and two small felids.