Large carnivore distribution in relationship to environmental and anthropogenic factors in a multiple‐use landscape of Northern Tanzania

Effective management of threatened wildlife, particularly large carnivores, depends on a sound understanding of their spatial distribution and status in relationship to environmental or anthropogenic impacts. Here, we analyse data from spoor surveys to investigate occurrence across a multiple‐use landscape in the Tarangire–Simanjiro ecosystem in northern Tanzania for four taxa of African large carnivores: lions (Panthera leo), hyaenas (spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) and striped hyaenas (Hyaena hyaena) combined), cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) and leopards (P. pardus). We analysed our data using occupancy modelling, explicitly accounting for detectability, to identify associations with environmental and anthropogenic variables. Overall occurrence was estimated at 0.85 (SE = 0.06) for hyaena, 0.82 (SE = 0.15) for cheetah, 0.55 (SE = 0.10) for lion and 0.61 (SE = 0.21) for leopard. Lion occurrence was negatively associated with distance to park boundary. Hyaena occurrence was positively associated with human population density and negatively associated with bushland, while cheetah and leopard occurrences were positively associated with grassland. These results suggest that lions may be more vulnerable to human impacts than other species, while hyaenas may benefit from vicinity to humans. Our study demonstrates the value of spoor‐based occupancy surveys for understanding distribution and habitat use of secretive large carnivores. La gestion efficace de la faune menacée, et en particulier des grands carnivores, dépend d'une bonne appréhension de leur distribution spatiale et de leur statut en fonction des impacts environnementaux et anthropogènes. Nous analysons ici les données provenant d’études de traces pour étudier la présence, à travers un paysage à usages multiples dans l’écosystème Tarangire‐Simanjiro dans le nord de la Tanzanie, de quatre taxons de grands carnivores africains, les lions (Panthera leo), les hyènes tachetées (Crocuta crocuta) et rayées (Hyaena hyaena) prises ensemble, les guépards (Acinonyx jubatus) et les léopards (Panthera pardus). Nous avons analysé nos données en employant une modélisation de l'occupation, comptant clairement pour la détectabilité, pour identifier des associations avec des variables environnementales et anthropogènes. L'occurrence générale fut estimée à 0,85 (ES = 0.06) pour les hyènes, 0,82 (ES = 0.15) pour les guépards, 0,55 (ES = 0.10) pour les lions et 0.61 (ES = 0.21) pour les léopards. L'occurrence des lions éta