Analysis of the Effects of Prey, Competitors, and Human Activity on the Spatiotemporal Distribution of the Wolverine (Gulo gulo) in a Boreal Region of Heilongjiang Province, China

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Understanding how endangered carnivores partition spatiotemporal distribution in human-dominated landscapes is pivotal for mitigating biodiversity loss in climate-sensitive boreal ecosystems. Here, we used kernel density data derived from a 16-month camera-trap survey (140 UVL7 cameras), cold single-season (November–April) occupancy models, and MaxEnt 3.4.4 to identify the effects of biotic interactions, anthropogenic disturbance, and environmental factors on the spatiotemporal distribution of the wolverine (Gulo gulo) in Beijicun National Nature Reserve, Heilongjiang Province, China. We found that wolverines exhibited crepuscular activity patterns using night-time relative abundance index (NRAI) = 50.29% with bimodal peaks (05:00–07:00, 13:00–15:00), with dawn activity predominant during the warm season (05:00–06:00) and a bimodal activity pattern in the cold season (08:00–09:00, 14:00–15:00). Temporal overlap with prey (overlap coefficient Δ = 0.84) and competitors (Δ = 0.70) was high, but overlap with human-dominated temporal patterns was low (Δ = 0.58). Wolverines avoided human settlements and major roads, preferred moving along forest trails and gentle slopes, and avoided high-altitude deciduous forests. Populations were mainly concentrated in southern Hedong and Qianshao Forest Farms, which are characterized by high habitat integrity, high prey densities, and minimal anthropogenic disturbance. These findings suggest that wolverines may influence boreal trophic networks, especially in areas with intact prey communities, competitors, and spatial refugia from human disturbances. We recommend that habitat protection and management within the natural reserve be prioritized and that sustainable management practices for prey species be implemented to ensure the long-term survival of wolverines.

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