Influence of moon phase on activity and predator-prey interaction
Leopards exhibited irregular activity pattern and most camera trigger events occurred at last quarter (n = 27; 17.52 %) and full moon (n=33; 21.42%), followed by new moon (n = 20; 13.63%) and first quarter (n = 18; 11.67%; Figure 3a) at the nighttime and daytime maximum camera trigger occasions occurred at full moon (n = 34; 22.07 %), and similar results occurred during the daytime for others lunar phases; Figure 3a). For prey species, wild boar indicated lunar phobic behavior during the night events; activity declined during full moon (n=32; 10.06%), while peak activity occurred during the last quarter (n=50; 15.72 %), followed by first quarter (n=34; 10.69%) and new moon phase (n=34; 10.69 %; Figure 3b) and similar results were occurred during the daytime, activity dropped for the period of full moon (n=22; 6.91%), and similar results were consistent for other lunar phase, Figure 3b), Furthermore, roe deer were evidently lunar philic, based on percent nocturnal activity during full moon phase (n=184; 30.42%); first quarter moon (n=64; 10.72%); and last quarter (n=40; 6.61%; Figure .3c) and daytime activity was peak at full moon phase (n=190; 31.41%); was also relatively high during the first quarter moon (n=40; 6.61%) and last quarter (n=30; 4.95%; Figure .3c) and activity during the new moon was lowest during both daytime new moon (n=20; 3.30%) and nighttime new moon (n=37; 6.11%). Similar with wild boar, Tolai hare (Figure 3d) had a dip in nighttime activity during the full moon (n=103; 9.03%); into the new moon (n=115; 10.38%) and increased activity during into the first quarter (n=193; 13.08%) ; in to the last quarter (n=144; 13.00%; Figure 3d) and daytime Tolai hare dip peak in activity during the full moon and showed lunar phobic (n=122; 11.10%); and into the first quarter (n=127; 11.47 %) and increased activity during of new moon (n=187; 16.89%) in to the last quarter (n=210; 18.97%; Figure 3d).
The nocturnal temporal overlap between leopards and wild boar (Figure 3e) was low and a significant negative relationship was observed. In contrast, the temporal overlap between leopard and both roe deer (Figure 3f) and Tolai hare (Figure 3g) was relatively high and showed significant positive relationships.
Based on analyses of nocturnal activity capture occasions during the full moon, leopard activity was significantly positively linked to MRI as well as the interaction between clear cover and more active during a summer full moon (Table 3). For roe deer, clear nights did not influence temporal activity but more active during a summer full moon than a winter full moon had a negative effect on activity during the full moon. Wild boar activity during the full moon was not influenced by clear cover and MRI as independent factors, but their interaction had a significant negative effect. Finally, Tolai hare activity during the full moon had a significant negative relationship with clear nights and a significant positive relationship with season (summer), i.e., more active during a summer full moon than a winter full moon.