Impact of human disturbance on temporal partitioning within carnivore communities

Interspecific competition is an important evolutionary force, influencing interactions between species and shaping the composition of biological communities. In mammalian carnivores, to reduce risks negative encounters competitors, can employ a strategy temporal partitioning, adapting activity patterns limit synchronous activity. This non-human competitor avoidance, however, may be influenced by expansion human activities, which has driven wild mammals towards nocturnality. We hypothesise that disruption niche partitioning humans their activities could increase overlap enhancing interspecific competition. reviewed published literature systematically employed generalised linear models evaluate quantitatively relative influence range human, meteorological ecological variables on coefficients within terrestrial carnivore communities (orders Carnivora Didelphimorphia) global scale. None investigated showed evidence impact carnivores illustrates avoidance competitors does not always follow consistent pattern its strength context-dependent other dimensions (spatial trophic). Similarly, regulation strongly site-specific combination biotic abiotic characteristics. Temporal both take form short, reactive responses do in longer term. Although we did detect due disturbance, still experience dimensions. Further research would benefit from using controlled experimental designs investigating multiple simultaneously. Finally, recommend complementing coefficient with metrics fine-scale spatiotemporal interactions.