Abstract: To elucidate the habitat selection preferences and underlying driving mechanisms of leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) in mountain forests, we explored habitat selection pattern of the leopard cats in 11 representative mountain forest ecosystems in Guizhou by integrating camera trapping and habitat plot survey. The results showed that the leopard cats exhibited a significant preference in selecting their habitats, mainly characterized by a trade-off strategy between resource prioritization and risk avoidance. In terms of habitat characteristics, leopard cats showed a strong preference for habitats with shady slopes, broad-leaved forests with high canopy density, and areas with low shrub coverage. In terms of disturbance response, leopard cats preferred weakly interfering environments and habitats far from roads, while actively avoiding strongly interfering environments. The random forest modeling further confirmed that canopy density and disturbance level were key factors driving habitat selection of leopard cats, while geographical factors such as altitude, slope, and distance from water sources had relatively weak influence. This study fills a research gap in the habitat selection of leopard cats in southern mountain forests, and can provide scientific basis for the precise protection and management of leopard cat habitats.

Key words: Leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), habitat selection, infrared camera monitoring, Random Forest model, mountain forest