Research Article | Published: 31 July 2025

Navigating the urban matrix: Spatio-temporal adaptations of tigers and associated species to coexist in the Bhopal-Ratapani landscape of central India

Durga Prasad Srivastava, Shivangi Bendre, Shekhar Kolipaka and Bhupendra Singh Adhikari

Indian Journal of Forestry | Volume: 48 | Issue: 2 | Page No. 111-115 | 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2025-QA6AMV | Cite this article

Abstract

This study investigates the spatio-temporal dynamics of tiger (Panthera tigris) coexistence within the human-modified landscape of the Bhopal-Ratapani Connecting Forest in Madhya Pradesh, India. Utilizing camera trap data collected in 2020, we examined the activity patterns of tigers, co-predators, prey species (wild and domestic), and humans to assess spatio-temporal overlap and segregation. Our results reveal significant temporal partitioning among these groups, with tigers exhibiting primarily nocturnal behavior to minimize overlap with human activity. Prey species display diverse strategies, including diurnal, nocturnal, and crepuscular patterns. The same has also been depicted in the Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling plot. ANOVA analysis confirms significant spatial variation (F = 4.2, p < 0.003) and temporal variation
(F = 4.22, p < 0.01) among the focal groups. These findings underscore the importance of temporal niche partitioning in facilitating tiger persistence in urban-influenced environments and inform targeted conservation strategies aimed at mitigating human- wildlife conflict and promoting coexistence.

Keywords

Activity pattern, Human-carnivore encounters, Multidimensional scaling, Temporal niche, Trap nights

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How to cite

Srivastava, D.P., Bendre, S., Kolipaka, S. and Adhikari, B.S., 2025. Navigating the urban matrix: Spatio-temporal adaptations of tigers and associated species to coexist in the Bhopal-Ratapani landscape of central India. Indian Journal of Forestry, 48(2), pp.111-115. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2025-QA6AMV

Publication History

Manuscript Received on 02 June 2025

Manuscript Revised on 24 June 2025

Manuscript Accepted on 27 June 2025

Manuscript Published on 31 July 2025

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