Avoidance or coexistence? Exploring spatio-temporal niche overlap between two sympatric ungulates barking deer and Himalayan goral in a multi-use landscape of Uttarkashi district, Western Himalaya

Avoidance or coexistence? Exploring spatio-temporal niche overlap between two sympatric ungulates barking deer and Himalayan goral in a multi-use landscape of Uttarkashi district, Western Himalaya | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 25 February 2026 V1 Latest version Share on Avoidance or coexistence? Exploring spatio-temporal niche overlap between two sympatric ungulates barking deer and Himalayan goral in a multi-use landscape of Uttarkashi district, Western Himalaya Authors : Hemant Singh , Amira Sharief , Vineet Kumar , Bheem Joshi , Mukesh Thakur , and Lalit Kumar Sharma 0000-0003-1214-7416 [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.177201379.90895451/v1 174 views 106 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Abstract: Ungulates play a vital role in maintaining the integrity of the high mountain ecosystem by sustaining plant community structure and regulating predator populations. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the interaction of sympatric species in the mountainous landscape. In this study we aim to investigate the seasonal spatial and temporal overlap between two sympatric species namely barking deer ( Muntiacus vaginalis) and Himalayan goral ( Naemorhedus goral) in Uttarkashi, district of Uttarakhand. We employed niche equivalency and niche similarity test, to quantify the niche overlap of these sympatric species. Total of 99 trails were traversed and 134 camera traps were deployed to collect data on the sympatric ungulate species. The finding of non-significant niche similarity test statistics and significant background test statistics indicated that both sympatric ungulates have broad niche similariy relative to the same available environmental space throughout year. Overall niche overlap index showed modrate to high (0.58), however in summer showed modrate (0.54) and in winter showed low overlap (0.34). We also investigate the temporal activity pattern of both species, where barking deer showed diurnal and crepuscular activity pattern with highest peak activity during mid-day hours while Himalayan goral was active throughout the day with peak activity during morning and evening hours. The daily activity index Dhat value showed highest temporal overlap was found in winter season (0.79) and lowest in summer season (0.71). This study provided useful information to understand the coexistence pattern of sympatric ungulates in Himalaya, which will be helpful for their long term conservation and management. Understanding these interactions provides insights into the mechanisms driving community structure and species persistence in increasingly complex ecosystems. Supplementary Material File (manuscript_23022026_wildlife_biology.docx) Download 4.81 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 25 February 2026 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords activity pattern camera trap coexistence niche overlap uttarkashi Authors Affiliations Hemant Singh Zoological Survey of India View all articles by this author Amira Sharief Zoological Survey of India View all articles by this author Vineet Kumar Zoological Survey of India View all articles by this author Bheem Joshi Zoological Survey of India View all articles by this author Mukesh Thakur Zoological Survey of India View all articles by this author Lalit Kumar Sharma 0000-0003-1214-7416 [email protected] Zoological Survey of India View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 174 views 106 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Hemant Singh, Amira Sharief, Vineet Kumar, et al. Avoidance or coexistence? Exploring spatio-temporal niche overlap between two sympatric ungulates barking deer and Himalayan goral in a multi-use landscape of Uttarkashi district, Western Himalaya. Authorea . 25 February 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.177201379.90895451/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. 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