File name: Transect_details.csv Description: This file provides details on all the line transects walked during season 2 of sampling for mammal abundance (including prey and predator species) using direct and indirect sign surveys in Valparai plateau and the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. Explanation of column headings: Transect_code Codes for 2-km-long transects distributed in four habitat types: continuous forest as control site (inside Anamalai Tiger Reserve), coffee plantation, forest fragment, and tea plantation, prefixed as ‘ATR’, ‘C’, ‘F’, and ‘T’, respectively. The last alphabet in a code, that is, A,B, or C, marks a spatial replicate within a habitat type. Habitat Four habitat types were surveyed as mentioned above Location Locality of the transect on Valparai plateau Start_Lat Geolocation (latitude in degrees N) of the start point of a transect Start_Long Geolocation (longitude in degrees E) of the start point of a transect Start_Alt Altitude in metres (above sea level) of the start of a transect End_Lat Geolocation (latitude in degrees N) of the end point of a transect End_Long Geolocation (longitude in degrees E) of the end point of a transect End_Alt Altitude in metres (above sea level) of the end of a transect Notes Other notes and remarks ... File name: Transect_repeats.csv Description: This file provides date and time of temporal replicates of all line transects detailed in 'Transect_details.csv'. Explanation of column headings: Transect_code Codes for 2-km-long transects distributed in four habitat types: continuous forest as control site (inside Anamalai Tiger Reserve), coffee plantation, forest fragment, and tea plantation, prefixed as ‘ATR’, ‘C’, ‘F’, and ‘T’, respectively. The last alphabet in a code, that is, A,B, or C, marks a spatial replicate within a habitat type. Repeat Temporal replicate number of a transect Date Date of transect survey Start_time Start time of transect survey End_time End time of transect survey ... File name: Mammals_Direct_signs.csv Description: This file provides mammal abundance data using distance sampling of line transects detailed in 'Transect_details.csv' and 'Transect_repeats.csv'. Explanation of column headings: S.No. Serial number Transect_code_repl Codes for line transects, each approximately 2 km long, with suffix numeral indicating replicate survey visit number. More details on the transects in file ‘Transect_details.csv’. Location Locality of the transect Date Date of transect survey Time Starting time of the transect survey Species Name of mammal species detected on the transect (for Scientific names, refer the published paper in Current Science) Detection Code for detection of mammals on the transect. ‘1’ if mammal species were seen and ‘0’ if no mammals were seen on the transect. Number Number of individuals recorded in that detection on the transect. In case of primates, when the troop sizes were not known the number has been replaced with ‘X’ Distance Perpendicular distance from the transect line of the detection (lower and upper limit of the distance category in metres separated by a hyphen ”-” ). In case of a group/troop, distance to the centre of the group/troop was noted. Heard_or_Seen Indicates whether the detection was by sound (Heard) or sight (Seen) Notes Any additional notes or remarks ... File name: Mammals_Indirect_signs.csv Description: This file provides mammal abundance data using indirect sign surveys along 2 km long and 2 m wide belt transects. These belt transects were placed and surveyed along with the line transects detailed in 'Transect_details.csv' and 'Transect_repeats.csv'. Explanation of column headings: S.No. Serial number Transect_code_repl Code of a belt transect 2 km long and 2 m wide, with suffix numeral indicating replicate survey visit number. More information about the transects in Transect_details.csv. Location Locality of the transect Habitat Major habitat or vegetation type in which the transect was walked Date Date of transect survey Time Starting time of the transect survey Sign Type of indirect sign. Different types of indirect signs that were noted include scat, pellet, spraint, or dung; pugmak, hoofmark, or track; or scraping, digging, hole, nest, quill, spray, feeding signs. Age_sign Code for freshness of the indirect sign. VF for very fresh, F for fresh, O for old, VO for very old, or na in case of signs where such distinction was not possible, such as, a nest or a quill. Species Identification of the indirect sign to a mammal species or a group (for Scientific names, refer the published paper in Current Science). Substrate Substrate (mud, rock, or tree) on which the sign was found Notes Additional associated notes or remarks ... File name: Large_carnivores_Indirect_signs.csv Description: This file provides data on presence and abundance of indirect signs of carniores species (leopard, dhole, small cat) along various 2 km long and 2 m wide belt transects surveyed during season 1 and season 2 (details on seasons under column head explanation). Details of the transects are explained below under column name: Transect_locality. This file also contains data on large carnivore scats (leopard and dholes) collected during transect surveys. The scats were collected for DNA-based analysis to confirm predator species identity and to carry out diet analysis using prey species remains. Explanation of column headings: S.No. Serial number of data entry Date Date of survey Season Season when the surveys were conducted. November 2008 to June 2009, before south-west monsoon of 2009, as Season 1, and September 2009 to June 2010, before south-west monsoon of 2010, as Season 2 Time Time of survey Transect_Locality Identity of the transect or the locality that was surveyed. Details for transects carried out in Season 2 are in ‘Transect_details.csv’ file. For surveys during Season 1, the transects were coded differently and their habitat type and geolocations are provided wherever avaiable. Repeat Temporal repeat of the transects on which a carnivore sign was found. Localities or transects that were walked opportunistically and do not have information on temporal replication. Sign_present Presence of a carnivore sign is noted as ‘Y’ for yes and ‘N’ for no Sign_type Identity of the carnivore sign as scat, pugmark or other (include scrape marks or any other signs). Species_ID_field Carnivore identity given to the sign in field. Questions mark indicates that the identification was uncertain. Species_ID_lab Carnivore identity of scats as ‘leopard’ or ‘canid’ based on DNA-based analysis in laboratory Scat_No. Serial number of the scat collected in the field, corresponding to a given season Condition The condition or age of the sign is coded for Season 2 and given as is for Season 1. For Season 2, we marked the scats as very fresh if they were likely to be less than 24 hours old. For scats older than 24 hours, we used a scale of A, B, C, D, and E, for increasing age of the scat, A and B when scats were relatively fresh and their boli were intact, C when the scats were old but boli were intact, and D and E for old scats where the boli showed progressive disintegration. WP Waypoint for the geolocation of a carnivore sign Latitude Geolocation (Latitude in degrees N) of a carnivore sign Longitude Geolocation (Longitude in degrees E) of a carnivore sign Altitude Altitude (in metres above sea level) of a carnivore sign Habitat Major habitat type where the carnivore sign was found Trail type Notes on the type of trail where the carnivore sign was found On_Off_Transect We noted down if a carnivore sign was part of the transect survey (on) or not (off) Length_cm Approximate length of the scat in centimetres Width_cm Approximate width of the scat in centimetres Notes Any additional notes on the observation were noted ... File name: Large_carnivore_Diet.csv Description: This file contains data on large carnivore (leopard and dhole) diet using indigestible remains of prey species in scats. Explanation of column headings: S.No. Serial number of the observation Season Sampling season in which the scat was collected. November 2008 to June 2009, before south-west monsoon of 2009, is Season 1, and September 2009 to June 2010, before south-west monsoon of 2010, is Season 2. Scat_no. Serial number of the scat collected in the field, corresponding to a season Predator_ID_field Predator identification given to the scat in field Predator_ID_field Predator identification of the scat using DNA-based analysis in laboratory Items Number of prey species whose remains were found in a scat Prey_1 Identification of the first prey species based on indigestible remains of prey species found in the scat Prey_2 Identification of the second prey species based on indigestible remains of prey species found in the scat Prey_3 Identification of the third prey species based on indigestible remains of prey species found in the scat