Camera Trapping to Assess Diversity, Habitat Use and Activity Patterns of Mammals in a Tropical Hotspot Area

African Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 63(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Tropical forest mammal communities, especially those in ecological transition zones, are under constant threat from human activities, but most cases there is a lack of knowledge about their status, and baseline information on diversity lacking many parts the world. The Mpem Djim National Park central Cameroon degraded savannah mosaic known to host several globally threatened species. As little ecology species there, we undertook rapid assessment using line transects, opportunistic surveys (recce), camera trapping September 2021 December 2021. Our aim was collect diversity, population relative abundance, activity patterns potential threats inform conservation priorities for park managers. After 1700 days, obtained 915 events (mean per location = 29.5). richness 32 large, medium‐sized small mammals. monitored belonged 18 families 10 orders. family Antilopinae highest abundance index (RAI, 26.24) frequency (RF, 0.49), members this were active (6392 individuals). Blue Duiker ( Philantomba monticola , Thunberg, 1789) had 16.47) 0.31). No significant difference found between RAI, RF, number habitat classes. Human tracks snares abundant recorded (ER, 0.42 0.22 signs km). alpha suggests high within community with an almost even distribution no dominance one over another. We estimated lower very low probability recording new taxa Q 0.99). results also suggest spatio‐temporal niche partitioning overlap some duikers, coefficient Cephalophus callipygus Peters, 1876, dorsalis Grey, 1846 (Δ 0.81) Genetta maculata 930 vs. servalina Pucheran, 1855 0.82). observations provide long‐term monitoring terrestrial vertebrates MDNP.

Language: Английский

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Next-Generation Camera Trapping: Systematic Review of Historic Trends Suggests Keys to Expanded Research Applications in Ecology and Conservation

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: Feb. 26, 2021

Camera trapping is an effective non-invasive method for collecting data on wildlife species to address questions of ecological and conservation interest. We reviewed 2,167 camera trap (CT) articles from 1994 2020. Through the lens technological diffusion, we assessed trends in: (1) CT adoption measured by published research output, (2) topic, taxonomic, geographic diversification composition applications, (3) sampling effort, spatial extent, temporal duration studies. Annual publications have grown 81-fold since 1994, increasing at a rate 1.26 (SE = 0.068) per year 2005, but with decelerating growth 2017. Topic, richness studies increased encompass 100% topics, 59.4% ecoregions, 6.4% terrestrial vertebrates. However, declines in article rates accretion plateaus Shannon's H topics major taxa studied suggest upper limits further as currently practiced. Notable compositional changes included decrease capture-recapture, recent spatial-capture-recapture, increases occupancy, interspecific interactions, automated image classification. Mammals were dominant taxon studied; within mammalian orders carnivores exhibited unimodal peak whereas primates, rodents lagomorphs steadily increased. Among biogeographic realms observed decreases Oceania Nearctic, Afrotropic Palearctic, peaks Indomalayan Neotropic. days, area sampled increased, much greater 0.90 quantile compared median. Next-generation are poised expand knowledge valuable ecology posing previously infeasible unprecedented spatiotemporal scales, array species, wider variety environments. Converting potential into broad-based application will require transferable models classification, sharing among users across multiple platforms coordinated manner. Further taxonomic likely modifications that permit more efficient smaller improvements modeling unmarked populations. Environmental can benefit engineering solutions ease traditionally challenging sites.

Language: Английский

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Species-Habitat Associations: Spatial data, predictive models, and ecological insights

Published: Dec. 1, 2020

Ecologists develop species-habitat association (SHA) models to understand where species occur, why they are there and else might be. This knowledge can be used designate protected areas, estimate anthropogenic impacts on living organisms assess risks from invasive or disease spill-over wildlife humans. Here, we describe the state of art in SHA models, looking beyond apparent correlations between positions their local environment. We highlight importance ecological mechanisms, synthesize diverse modelling frameworks motivate development new analytical methods. Above all, aim synthetic, bringing together several apparently disconnected pieces theory, taxonomy, spatiotemporal scales, mathematical statistical technique our field. The first edition this ebook reviews ecology associations, mechanistic interpretation existing empirical shared foundations that help us draw scientific insights field data. It will interest graduate students professionals for an introduction literature SHAs, practitioners seeking analyse data animal movements distributions quantitative ecologists contribute methods addressing limitations current incarnations models.

Language: Английский

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All-Male Groups in Asian Elephants: A Novel, Adaptive Social Strategy in Increasingly Anthropogenic Landscapes of Southern India

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 9(1)

Published: July 4, 2019

Abstract Male Asian elephants are known to adopt a high-risk high-gain foraging strategy by venturing into agricultural areas and feeding on nutritious crops in order improve their reproductive fitness. We hypothesised that the high risks survival posed increasingly urbanising often unpredictable production landscapes may necessitate emergence of behavioural strategies allow male persist such landscapes. Using 1445 photographic records 248 uniquely identified over 23-month period, we show display striking emergent behaviour, particularly formation stable, long-term all-male groups, typically non-forested or human-modified highly fragmented areas. They remained solitary associated mixed-sex however, within forested habitats. These novel, large associations, constitute unique life history for but resource-rich southern India. This be especially true adolescent males, which seemed effectively body condition exploiting anthropogenic resources when groups. observation further supports our hypothesis behaviours likely an adaptive forced confront anthropogenically intrusive environments.

Language: Английский

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Camera trapping expands the view into global biodiversity and its change

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 378(1881)

Published: May 29, 2023

Growing threats to biodiversity demand timely, detailed information on species occurrence, diversity and abundance at large scales. Camera traps (CTs), combined with computer vision models, provide an efficient method survey of certain taxa high spatio-temporal resolution. We test the potential CTs close knowledge gaps by comparing CT records terrestrial mammals birds from recently released Wildlife Insights platform publicly available occurrences many observation types in Global Biodiversity Information Facility. In locations CTs, we found they sampled a greater number days (mean = 133 versus 57 days) documented additional increase 1% expected mammals). For data, provided novel documentation their ranges (93% 48% birds). Countries largest boost data coverage were historically underrepresented southern hemisphere. Although embargoes providers' willingness share cause lag availability. Our work shows that continued collection mobilization especially when sharing supports attribution privacy, has offer critical lens into biodiversity. This article is part theme issue 'Detecting attributing causes change: needs, solutions'.

Language: Английский

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Large‐scale and long‐term wildlife research and monitoring using camera traps: a continental synthesis

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 17, 2025

ABSTRACT Camera traps are widely used in wildlife research and monitoring, so it is imperative to understand their strengths, limitations, potential for increasing impact. We investigated a decade of use cameras (2012–2022) with case study on Australian terrestrial vertebrates using multifaceted approach. ( i ) synthesised information from literature review; ii conducted an online questionnaire 132 professionals; iii hosted in‐person workshop 28 leading experts representing academia, non‐governmental organisations (NGOs), government; iv mapped camera trap usage based all sources. predicted that the last would have shown: exponentially sampling effort, continuation trends up 2012; analytics shifted naive presence/absence capture rates towards hierarchical modelling accounts imperfect detection, thereby improving quality outputs inferences occupancy, abundance, density; broader scales terms multi‐species, multi‐site multi‐year studies. However, results showed effort has reached plateau, publication only modestly. Users reported reaching saturation point images could be processed by humans time complex analyses academic writing. There were strong taxonomic geographic biases medium–large mammals (>500 g) forests along Australia's southeastern coastlines, reflecting proximity major cities. Regarding analytical choices, bias‐prone indices still accounted ~50% this was consistent across user groups. Multi‐species, multiple‐year studies rare, largely driven hesitancy around collaboration data sharing. no repository Atlas Living Australia (ALA) dominant sharing tabular occurrence records. ALA presence‐only thus unsuitable creating detection histories absences, inhibiting modelling. Workshop discussions identified pressing need enhance efficiency, scale management outcomes, proposal Wildlife Observatory (WildObs). To encourage standards sharing, WildObs should promote metadata collection app; create tagged image facilitate artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) computer vision space; address identification bottleneck via AI/ML‐powered image‐processing platforms; commons suitable modelling; v provide capacity building tools Our review highlights while investments monitoring biodiversity position global leader context, realising requires paradigm shift best practices collecting, curating, analysing ‘Big Data’. findings framework broad applicability outside meet conservation objectives ranging local scales. This articulates country/continental observatory approach also international collaborative networks.

Language: Английский

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Conservation crisis? Status of jaguars Panthera onca in Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Oryx, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 12

Published: Jan. 23, 2025

Abstract Maintaining jaguar Panthera onca subpopulations throughout Mesoamerica is vital to range-wide conservation. Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica critical habitat for the Osa Peninsula subpopulation. There a debate regarding whether jaguars this are state of crisis. To examine this, we implemented long-term camera-trap monitoring during 2015–2021. Using spatially explicit Jolly–Seber model estimated populations and distribution our study area. Additionally, reran using constrained area compare findings with those previous study. Trends abundance indices population estimates 2015–2021 indicate that has increased over time. Our density also fall within range densities reported relatively stable elsewhere. same as prior study, duration were mostly comparable estimates. results suggest may not be Rather, provide further hope Peninsula. They do not, however, diminish importance continued conservation efforts. These will remain both inside outside Park, threats appear have persisted

Language: Английский

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The importance of including phenology when modelling species ecological niche

Ecography, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 2023(4)

Published: March 21, 2022

Species distribution models have grown in complexity by incorporating fine‐scale variables, including data on microclimate, physiology and species interactions. Recent studies acknowledged the importance of spatial scale higher resolution maps more complex climatic variables. However, rarely consider consequences related to time. Indeed, phenology – potential shifts due, for example, climate change is potentially one most neglected aspects ecological modelling. We present a literature review relevant phenological at different temporal scales across several taxa. Such elements should be considered define better environmental niche project present, future past models. available plants, insects, reptiles, birds mammals evaluate how they dealt with investigated species, as well other resources interacting infer projections. Here we focus four main that, if not considered, may easily bias any projection, namely: 1) can accompanied shift within year (e.g. migratory species); 2) activity restricted portion ectotherms from temperate climates); 3) survival reproduction success depend synchrony plants–pollinators interactions); 4) changes conditions lead anticipated or delayed blooms migration timing). In this review, show neglecting such factors quickly biased distribution. Finally, provide guide evaluating whether case study affected what actions improve

Language: Английский

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Effects of camera‐trap placement and number on detection of members of a mammalian assemblage

Ecosphere, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 12(7)

Published: July 1, 2021

Abstract A central goal in camera‐trapping (CT) studies is to maximize detection probability and precision of occupancy estimates while minimizing the number CTs reduce equipment labor costs. Few studies, however, have examined effect CT on probability. Moreover, historically, most focused a specific species design could be tailored toward maximizing this target species. Increasingly, such use data for all captured, non‐target, (by‐catch data) animal community‐level analyses. It remains unclear if, how, targeting one affects non‐target We paired from permanent grid (with 38 CTs) targeted at monitoring Eurasian lynx ( Lynx ) Innlandet County, Norway, with additional randomly placed two spatial scales (38 within same habitat patch 50‐km 2 cell as lynx‐targeted three months. combined multi‐scale models that enable separation large‐scale occupancy, CT‐scale site use, single‐scale models. This allowed us study effects placement (lynx) seven mammal (four carnivores, herbivores, rodent). found species, except moose Alces alces ), had highest CTs. Moose equal probabilities types. Adding extra generally increased probabilities. Consequently, combining or more CTs, accuracy cells compared single estimates. The underestimated grid‐cell known minimum were similar site‐use is, uncertain which extent these refer. therefore recommend multiple (targeted) estimate large interpret an, yet undefined, area surrounding CT.

Language: Английский

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Are we telling the same story? Comparing inferences made from camera trap and telemetry data for wildlife monitoring

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 33(1)

Published: Sept. 15, 2022

Abstract Estimating habitat and spatial associations for wildlife is common across ecological studies it well known that individual traits can drive population dynamics vice versa. Thus, commonly assumed individual‐ population‐level data should represent the same underlying processes, but few have directly compared contemporaneous representing these different perspectives. We evaluated circumstances under which collected from Lagrangian (individual‐level) Eulerian (population‐level) perspectives could yield comparable inference to understand how scalable information population. used Global Positioning System (GPS) collar (Lagrangian) camera trap (Eulerian) seven species simultaneously in eastern Washington (2018–2020) compare inferences made survey fit respective streams resource selection functions (RSFs) occupancy models estimated habitat‐ space‐use patterns each species. Although previous considered whether generated information, ours first make this comparison multiple specifically ask two differed depending on focal found general agreement between predicted distributions most paired analyses, although specific relationships differed. hypothesize discrepancies arose due differences statistical power associated with GPS‐collar sampling, as mismatches data. Our research suggests individual‐based sampling methods capture coarse population‐wide a diversity of species, results differ when interpreting wildlife‐habitat relationships.

Language: Английский

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