Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42310515›Full record

ArticleBMC ecology and evolution2026

Sexual differences of temporal marking and communication behaviours of common leopards (Panthera pardus) in Luolong County, Tibet.

Keji Guo, Yonglei Lv, Zijun Tang, Ming Su, Tong Zhang, Fu Shu, Qi Li, Changjian Wang, Mengfei Zhang, Haochun Chen and 6 more

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In one paragraph

Article in BMC ecology and evolution, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Keji Guo *College of Life-science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China.
Yonglei Lv *Forestry Inventory and Planning Institute of Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa, 850000, China.
Zijun TangCentral South Inventory and Planning Institute of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Changsha, 410014, China.
Ming SuCentral South Inventory and Planning Institute of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Changsha, 410014, China.
Tong ZhangCentral South Inventory and Planning Institute of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Changsha, 410014, China.
Fu ShuCentral South Inventory and Planning Institute of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Changsha, 410014, China.
Qi LiCentral South Inventory and Planning Institute of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Changsha, 410014, China.
Changjian WangCollege of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China.
Mengfei ZhangCentral South Inventory and Planning Institute of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Changsha, 410014, China.
Haochun ChenCentral South Inventory and Planning Institute of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Changsha, 410014, China.
Yang YuCollege of Life-science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China.
Yi ChenCollege of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China.
Yang XiaoChangjiang Water Resources Protection Institute, Wuhan, 430051, China.
Jinzhen LiuChangjiang Water Resources Protection Institute, Wuhan, 430051, China.
Muhammad ZamanCollege of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China.
Zuofu XiangCollege of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China. xiangzf@csuft.edu.cn.

Funding

he Natural Science Foundation of Tibet Autonomous Region 54000022T000000071200Hunan Provincial Forestry Science and Technology Innovation Program XLK201924the Administrative Bureau of Forestry and Grassland of Tibet Autonomous Region ZL202303601the Central South Inventory and Planning Institute of National Forestry and Grassland Administration 2020LC-3-04; ZH20240441the Changjiang Water Resources Protection Institute G02514
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCarnivores frequently rely on scent and visual markings for intraspecific communication, delineating territorial boundaries, attracting mates and assessing competitors. However, studying such behaviours in rare and elusive species poses significant challenges. To enhance our understanding of the diel marking behaviours of common leopard (Panthera pardus), from November, 2019 to June, 2023, we conducted a comprehensive camera-trap survey in Luolong county of Tibet, China.

methodsOur monitoring encompassed 159 locations yielded 1,208 (excluded 700 unknown sex) individual leopard detections over 60,000 trap days, allowing us to quantify the frequency and temporal patterns of marking behaviours. Of these, 153 detections involved territorial marking in snowy conditions, while 355 occurred in snow-free environments.

resultsFemale leopards in mixed forests and shrublands exhibited higher diurnal activity in snow-presence days. Male leopards engaged in a range of behaviours - including sniffing and rolling - primarily within mixed, coniferous and shrubland habitats. Male leopards engaged more frequently in behaviours such as sniffing, scraping, urine spraying, body rubbing, vocalizations, rolling and scat deposition with notable differences in scraping frequency compared to females. Female leopards displayed similar behaviours but at reduced levels particularly in scraping activities. The number of scrapes observed at camera-trap sites appears to be an indicator of leopard visitation rates suggesting its usefulness for optimizing monitoring efforts.

conclusionOur findings contribute valuable insights into how environmental factors influence social communication strategies in leopards, enhance our understanding of male and female leopard territorial and making behaviours in various environments, and benefit for the conservation and monitoring of carnivore populations.

Indexed as

Animal CommunicationPantheraTerritorialityAnimalsEcosystemFemaleMaleSex CharacteristicsTibetCamera trapsCommon leopardGendersHabitat factorsTemporal marking behaviour

Identifiers

PMID42310515
PMCPMC13551852

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.