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

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.