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<p>Coexisting species can reduce competition through ecological separation across habitat, diet, or temporal activity. We investigated niche segregation between the blue Sheep <i>(Pseudois nayaur)</i> and Siberian ibex <i>(Capra sibirica)</i> during winter (January–April 2024) in Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Himachal Pradesh, India. We assessed spatial distribution, habitat use based on 13 variables, and dietary overlap to understand niche segregation between these sympatric mountain ungulates. The two species exhibited low spatial overlap with segregation driven by distinct habitat preferences. Ibex preferred rugged, rocky terrain with multiple escape routes despite sparse vegetation, thereby trading off food for security. In contrast, blue Sheep favored less rocky areas with higher vegetation cover, thus balancing the need for food with the need to avoid predators. Both species relied on browse (herbs and shrubs) during winter. However,ibex consumed a significantly higher proportion of dicots and a lower proportion of monocots than blue sheep <i>p</i>, indicating partial dietary differentiation. These findings suggest that coexistence is primarily mediated by terrain-driven habitat segregation, with dietary differences playing a secondary role in the Trans-Himalayan landscape.</p>

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Ecological separation between blue sheep and siberian ibex in the indian trans-himalaya

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月19日

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  • Prakruthi G. M.,
  • Salvador Lyngdoh,
  • Yash Veer Bhatnagar,
  • Sambandam Sathyakumar

摘要

Coexisting species can reduce competition through ecological separation across habitat, diet, or temporal activity. We investigated niche segregation between the blue Sheep (Pseudois nayaur) and Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica) during winter (January–April 2024) in Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Himachal Pradesh, India. We assessed spatial distribution, habitat use based on 13 variables, and dietary overlap to understand niche segregation between these sympatric mountain ungulates. The two species exhibited low spatial overlap with segregation driven by distinct habitat preferences. Ibex preferred rugged, rocky terrain with multiple escape routes despite sparse vegetation, thereby trading off food for security. In contrast, blue Sheep favored less rocky areas with higher vegetation cover, thus balancing the need for food with the need to avoid predators. Both species relied on browse (herbs and shrubs) during winter. However,ibex consumed a significantly higher proportion of dicots and a lower proportion of monocots than blue sheep p, indicating partial dietary differentiation. These findings suggest that coexistence is primarily mediated by terrain-driven habitat segregation, with dietary differences playing a secondary role in the Trans-Himalayan landscape.