Table 1.
Predictor variables used in the study, showing the data source, spatial grain, and evidence of variable importance for livestock depredation by large Felidae carnivores that ambush prey, especially tigers
| Category | Predictor variable (unit) | Data source (spatial grain of raster) | Evidence of effect on predation risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human presence | Distance to road (m) | Survey of India topo maps from 1978, 1979, 1983, and 1984 | Increased risk farther from roads1 |
| Distance to village (m) | Kanha Tiger Reserve Forest Department | Increased risk of farther from villages1 | |
| Distance to core (m) | Increased risk closer to core2 | ||
| Land use | Distance to nonforest (m) | Forest Survey of India State of the Forests 2009 (24 m) | Decreased risk in open forest1, 2, 3, 4, 5; agriculture poor habitat for tigers6 |
| Distance to scrubland (m) | Decreased risk in open forest1, 2, 3, 4, 5; less suitable habitat for tigers6 | ||
| Distance to moderately dense forest (m) | Increased risk in dense forest1, 2, 3, 4, 5; high suitable habitat for tigers6; common habitat type for tigers killing prey7 | ||
| Distance to very dense forest (m) | Increased risk in dense forest1, 2, 3, 4, 5; high habitat suitability for tigers6; common habitat type for tigers killing prey7 | ||
| Vegetation structure | Visibility (m) | Increased risk with decreased visibility4, 8 but increasing vegetation cover1, 2, 3 | |
| Shrub height (m) | Increased risk with increasing vegetation cover1, 2, 3 | ||
| Shrub cover (%) | Increased risk with greater vegetation cover1, 2, 3 | ||
| Shrub patchiness (%) | Increased risk with increasing vegetation cover1, 2, 3 |