The Mostela: an adjusted camera trapping device as a promising non-invasive tool to study and monitor small mustelids

Abstract In spite of their potential important role in shaping small mammal population dynamics, weasel (Mustela nivalis) and stoat (Mustela erminea) are understudied due to the difficulty of detecting these species. Furthermore, their conservation status in many countries is unknown due to lack of monitoring techniques. There is thus an important need for a method to detect these small mustelids. In this study, we tested the efficiency of a recently developed camera trapping device, the Mostela, as a new technique to detect mustelids in a study area near Dieren, the Netherlands. We placed Mostelas in linear landscape features, and other microhabitats thought to be frequently visited by weasels, from March to October 2017 and February to October 2018. We tested for yearly and monthly differences in site use and detectability, as well as the effect of entrance tube size, using an occupancy modelling framework. We found large seasonal differences in site use and detectability of weasels with the highest site use in June to October and highest detection probability in August and September. Detection probability was approximately two times higher for Mostelas with a 10-cm entrance tube compared with 8-cm. Furthermore, we were able to estimate activity patterns based on the time of detection, identify the sex in most detections (69.5%), and distinguish several individuals. Concluding, the Mostela seems promising as a non-invasive monitoring tool to study the occurrence and ecology of small mustelids. Further development of individual recognition from images would enable using the Mostela for density estimates applying capture-recapture models.

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Correction to: The Mostela: an adjusted camera trapping device as a promising non-invasive tool to study and monitor small mustelids

Mammal Research ◽

10.1007/s13364-021-00593-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jeroen Mos ◽

Tim Ragnvald Hofmeester

Keyword(s):

Camera Trapping ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Small Mustelids ◽

Trapping Device

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Improving mesocarnivore detectability with lures in camera-trapping studies

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr18037 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 45 (6) ◽

pp. 505 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Pablo Ferreras ◽

Francisco Díaz-Ruiz ◽

Pedro Monterroso

Keyword(s):

Detection Probability ◽

Meles Meles ◽

Camera Trapping ◽

Detection Methods ◽

Target Species ◽

Stone Marten ◽

Occupancy Modelling ◽

Modelling Framework ◽

Trapping Methods ◽

Time Required

Context Camera trapping is commonly employed for studying carnivores because it provides better data than do other methods, and with lower costs. Increasing the probability of detecting the target species can reduce parameter uncertainty and survey effort required to estimate density and occurrence. Different methods, including attractants and baits, can be used to increase detectability. However, their efficacy has rarely been quantitatively assessed. Aims To quantify the efficacy of scent and bait attractants to increase the detection probability of mesocarnivores by camera trapping. Methods We tested two scent lures, valerian extract (Val) and lynx urine (LU), their combination (Val–LU), and a non-reward bait (i.e. not accessible to the animal), raw chicken, as carnivore attractants in two protected areas of central Spain. We used camera-trapping records under an occupancy-modelling framework to estimate attractant-specific detection probabilities for six mesocarnivore species, and quantified their effects by comparing these estimates with the baseline (i.e. no attractant) detectability. Key results The weekly detection probability of four mesocarnivore species (red fox, Vulpes vulpes, stone marten, Martes foina, common genet, Genetta genetta, and Eurasian badger, Meles meles) significantly increased when Val–LU (between 0.11 ± 0.07 and 0.67 ± 0.05) or chicken (between 0.31 ± 0.02 and 0.77 ± 0.22) were used as attractant, when compared with baseline detectability (between 0.01 ± 0.02 and 0.29 ± 0.05). Although rarely, wildcats (Felis silvestris) were mostly detected with Val–LU. The probability of detecting a species after k sampling occasions (7 days each) where it was present was highly improved with both Val–LU and chicken for all species (e.g. from 0.20 to 0.98 after four sampling occasions with chicken for the stone marten). Both attractants reduced the sampling time required to ascertain that a species was absent to between 42% and 15% of baseline values. Conclusions The tested attractants greatly improved the detectability of most Iberian mesocarnivores. Although chicken was preferable for some species such as stone marten, Val–LU is most efficient for detecting the whole mesocarnivore community, including rare species such as wildcats. Implications Attractant selection in studies using non-invasive detection methods must be supported by quantitative assessment of the detection probability associated to each attractant. Researchers must choose those attractants best fitting target species and study aims.

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Challenges and opportunities for monitoring wild Nile crocodiles with scute mark-recapture photography

Koedoe ◽

10.4102/koedoe.v60i1.1505 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 60 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Bernard W.T. Coetzee ◽

Sam M. Ferreira ◽

Kristine Maciejewski

Keyword(s):

Conservation Status ◽

Field Conditions ◽

High Turnover ◽

Mark Recapture ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Open Population ◽

Challenges And Opportunities ◽

In Captivity ◽

In The Wild

The global conservation status of Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) was last assessed in 1996. The species presents particular difficulty in monitoring because it can be cryptic, require expertise to handle, and caudal tail tags and transmitters are often lost. Some studies advocate mark-recapture techniques based on photograph identification of the unique scute markings of crocodile tails as a non-invasive means of monitoring their populations. Researchers developed this method with crocodiles in captivity. In this study, we test the technique under field conditions by monitoring crocodiles from 2015 to 2017 in the Sunset Dam in the Kruger National Park. Using a Cormack-Jolly-Seber open population model, we found that the dam may host 15–30 individuals, but that there is a high turnover of individuals and much uncertainty in model outputs. The dam’s population thus has high rates of immigration and emigration. The method proved challenging under field conditions, as there was bias in identifying scute markings consistently. The efficient use of the method requires an exceptional quality of photographic equipment. Animal crypsis, however, remains an issue. In this study, we discuss how to improve the mark-recapture photography methodology, especially to adapt the technique for citizen science initiatives.Conservation implications: Using scute mark-recapture photography presents challenges under field conditions. These challenges require innovative, practical and analytical solutions to successfully use the technique before monitoring programmes, aimed at ensuring the persistence of crocodiles in the wild, can be implemented.

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Determining multi-species site use outside the protected areas of the Maasai Mara, Kenya, using false positive site-occupancy modelling

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605318000297 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 54 (3) ◽

pp. 395-404 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Emily K. Madsen ◽

Femke Broekhuis

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

False Positive ◽

Site Occupancy ◽

Occupancy Modelling ◽

Term Survival ◽

Acinonyx Jubatus ◽

Human Presence ◽

Site Use ◽

Positive Site ◽

Wild Dogs

AbstractAlthough protected areas are the basis for many conservation efforts they are rarely of an adequate size for the long-term survival of populations of large, wide-roaming mammals. In the Maasai Mara, Kenya, communally owned wildlife conservancies have been developed to expand the area available for wildlife. As these continue to develop it is important to ensure that the areas chosen are beneficial to wildlife. Using presence data for cheetahs Acinonyx jubatus, elephants Loxodonta africana, spotted hyaenas Crocuta crocuta, leopards Panthera pardus, lions Panthera leo and wild dogs Lycaon pictus, collected through interviews with 648 people living outside protected areas, we identify key wildlife areas using false positive site-occupancy modelling. The probabilities of site use were first determined per species based on habitat, distance to protected area, human presence and rivers, and these probabilities were then combined to create a map to highlight key wildlife areas. All species, except hyaenas, preferred sites closer to the protected areas but site use varied by species depending on habitat type. All six species avoided human presence. Leopards, elephants, lions and wild dogs preferred sites closer to rivers. The resulting combined map highlights areas that could potentially benefit from conservation efforts, including the expansion of wildlife areas, and areas where human development, such as a newly tarmacked road, could have an impact on wildlife.

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Noninvasive DNA sampling and camera trapping suggest dramatic regional conservation status of an understudied carnivore: the Rüppell’s fox in Tunisia

Journal of Natural History ◽

10.1080/00222933.2019.1656295 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 53 (23-24) ◽

pp. 1439-1449

Author(s):

Yamna Karssene ◽

Raquel Godinho ◽

Mohsen Chammem ◽

Berardino Cocchiararo ◽

Said Nouira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Conservation Status ◽

Camera Trapping ◽

Dna Sampling ◽

Noninvasive Dna Sampling ◽

Noninvasive Dna ◽

Regional Conservation

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Monitoring wolves (Canis lupus) by non-invasive genetics and camera trapping: a small-scale pilot study

European Journal of Wildlife Research ◽

10.1007/s10344-011-0539-5 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 58 (1) ◽

pp. 47-58 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Marco Galaverni ◽

Davide Palumbo ◽

Elena Fabbri ◽

Romolo Caniglia ◽

Claudia Greco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Canis Lupus ◽

Camera Trapping ◽

Small Scale ◽

Non Invasive

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On the high trail: examining determinants of site use by the Endangered snow leopard Panthera uncia in Qilianshan, China

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605315001027 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 231-238 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Justine S. Alexander ◽

Kun Shi ◽

Lucy A. Tallents ◽

Philip Riordan

Keyword(s):

Gansu Province ◽

Camera Traps ◽

Snow Leopard ◽

Occupancy Modelling ◽

Use Patterns ◽

Robust Techniques ◽

Site Use ◽

Assessment And Monitoring ◽

Snow Leopards ◽

Panthera Uncia

AbstractThere is a need for simple and robust techniques for assessment and monitoring of populations of the Endangered snow leopard Panthera uncia to inform the development of action plans for snow leopard conservation. We explored the use of occupancy modelling to evaluate the influence of environmental and anthropogenic features on snow leopard site-use patterns. We conducted a camera trap survey across 480 km2 in Gansu Province, China, and used data from 60 camera traps to estimate probabilities of site use and detection using the single season occupancy model. We assessed the influence of three covariates on site use by snow leopards: elevation, the presence of blue sheep Pseudois nayaur and the presence of human disturbance (distance to roads). We recorded 76 captures of snow leopards over 2,906 trap-days, representing a mean capture success of 2.62 captures per 100 trap-days. Elevation had the strongest influence on site use, with the probability of site use increasing with altitude, whereas the influence of presence of prey and distance to roads was relatively weak. Our findings indicate the need for practical and robust techniques to appraise determinants of site use by snow leopards, especially in the context of the limited resources available for such work.

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Determinants and patterns of habitat use by the brown bear Ursus arctos in the French Pyrenees revealed by occupancy modelling

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605317000321 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 53 (2) ◽

pp. 334-343 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Blaise Piédallu ◽

Pierre-Yves Quenette ◽

Nicolas Bombillon ◽

Adrienne Gastineau ◽

Christian Miquel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Habitat Use ◽

Ursus Arctos ◽

Brown Bear ◽

Large Carnivores ◽

Occupancy Models ◽

Occupancy Modelling ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Core Areas ◽

Endangered Status ◽

Human Density

AbstractThe Pyrenean brown bear Ursus arctos population in the mountains between France and Spain is one of the smallest and most threatened populations of large carnivores in Europe. We assessed trends in brown bear habitat use in the Pyrenees and investigated the underlying environmental and anthropogenic drivers. Using detection/non-detection data collected during 2008–2014 through non-invasive methods, we developed dynamic occupancy models, accounting for local colonization and extinction processes. We found two non-connected core areas of occupancy, one in the west and the other in the centre of the Pyrenees, with a significant decrease in habitat use overall during 2008–2014. We also found a negative correlation between human density and bear occupancy, in agreement with previous studies on brown bear habitat suitability. Our results confirm the Critically Endangered status of the Pyrenean population of brown bears.

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Ecology and conservation of the northern hopping-mouse (Notomys aquilo)

Australian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1071/zo15082 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 64 (1) ◽

pp. 21 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Rebecca L. Diete ◽

Paul D. Meek ◽

Christopher R. Dickman ◽

Luke K.-P. Leung

Keyword(s):

Conservation Status ◽

Species Conservation ◽

Camera Traps ◽

Camera Trapping ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Pitfall Trapping ◽

Sandy Substrate ◽

Live Trapping ◽

Eucalypt Woodland ◽

Abundance And Distribution

The northern hopping-mouse (Notomys aquilo) is a cryptic and enigmatic rodent endemic to Australia’s monsoonal tropics. Focusing on the insular population on Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory, we present the first study to successfully use live traps, camera traps and radio-tracking to document the ecology of N. aquilo. Searches for signs of the species, camera trapping, pitfall trapping and spotlighting were conducted across the island during 2012–15. These methods detected the species in three of the 32 locations surveyed. Pitfall traps captured 39 individuals over 7917 trap-nights. Females were significantly longer and heavier, and had better body condition, than males. Breeding occurred throughout the year; however, the greatest influx of juveniles into the population occurred early in the dry season in June and July. Nine individuals radio-tracked in woodland habitat utilised discrete home ranges of 0.39–23.95 ha. All individuals used open microhabitat proportionally more than was available, and there was a strong preference for eucalypt woodland on sandy substrate rather than for adjacent sandstone woodland or acacia shrubland. Camera trapping was more effective than live trapping at estimating abundance and, with the lower effort required to employ this technique, it is recommended for future sampling of the species. Groote Eylandt possibly contains the last populations of N. aquilo, but even there its abundance and distribution have decreased dramatically in surveys over the last several decades. Therefore, we recommend that the species’ conservation status under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 be changed from ‘vulnerable’ to ‘endangered’.

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