Abstract Large carnivores can exert strong influence on local ecosystems, making them important targets for biodiversity conservation. An important question for conserving large carnivores outside of protected areas is the role of human activity in influencing the behavior of these predators. We used high-resolution animal location tracking and statistical modeling to examine the behavior of seven leopards (Panthera pardus) occupying an area that includes a research center and livestock ranch in central Kenya. Our analyses reveal changes in habitat selection around the times of sunrise and sunset, corresponding with changes in human activity at our site. Activity patterns were also variable within and among the leopards in our sample. To explore sources of this variability, we used regression modeling to estimate the relative influence of changing spatial and environmental conditions for leopard ranging behavior. Despite the tendency to be active during the day, we found that leopards strongly avoided areas where they were likely to encounter people during the daytime and showed variable selection for these same areas at night. The use of anthropogenic habitats was also associated with periods of greater ranging activity. We discuss the implications of these results for conservation efforts that attempt to balance the demands of livestock ranching alongside carnivore conservation.

中文翻译：

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生活在肯尼亚中部人类主导的景观中的豹 (Panthera pardus pardus) 的运动活动和栖息地使用的 Diel 模式

摘要 大型食肉动物对当地生态系统具有很强的影响力，是生物多样性保护的重要对象。在保护区外保护大型食肉动物的一个重要问题是人类活动在影响这些捕食者行为方面的作用。我们使用高分辨率动物位置跟踪和统计模型来检查七只豹子 (Panthera pardus) 的行为，该区域包括肯尼亚中部的一个研究中心和牲畜牧场。我们的分析揭示了日出和日落前后栖息地选择的变化，与我们现场人类活动的变化相对应。在我们的样本中，豹子内部和之间的活动模式也各不相同。为了探索这种可变性的来源，我们使用回归模型来估计不断变化的空间和环境条件对豹测距行为的相对影响。尽管白天倾向于活跃，但我们发现豹子强烈避开白天可能遇到人的区域，并在晚上对这些相同区域表现出不同的选择。人为栖息地的使用也与更广泛的测距活动时期有关。我们讨论了这些结果对试图平衡牲畜牧场需求和食肉动物保护的保护工作的影响。我们发现豹子在白天强烈避开它们可能遇到人的区域，并在夜间对这些相同区域显示出不同的选择。人为栖息地的使用也与更广泛的测距活动时期有关。我们讨论了这些结果对试图平衡牲畜牧场需求和食肉动物保护的保护工作的影响。我们发现豹子在白天强烈避开它们可能遇到人的区域，并在夜间对这些相同区域显示出不同的选择。人为栖息地的使用也与更广泛的测距活动时期有关。我们讨论了这些结果对试图平衡牲畜牧场需求和食肉动物保护的保护工作的影响。