scholarly journals Spatial ecology of the stone marten in an Alpine area: combining camera-trapping and genetic surveys

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Balestrieri ◽  
A. Mosini ◽  
F. Fonda ◽  
M. Piana ◽  
P. Tirozzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Ecology ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Camera Trapping ◽  
Individual Identification ◽  
Stone Marten ◽  
Pine Marten ◽  
Alpine Area ◽  
Pcr Rflp ◽  
Forested Areas ◽  
Density Values

AbstractA species’ potential distribution can be modelled adequately only if no factor other than habitat availability affects its occurrences. Space use by stone marten Martes foina is likely to be affected by interspecific competition with the strictly related pine marten Martes martes, the latter being able to outcompete the first species in forested habitats. Hence, to point out the environmental factors which determine the distribution and density of the stone marten, a relatively understudied mesocarnivore, we applied two non-invasive survey methods, camera-trapping and faecal-DNA based genetic analysis, in an Alpine area where the pine marten was deemed to be absent (Val Grande National Park N Italy). Camera trapping was conducted from October 2014 to November 2015, using up to 27 cameras. Marten scats were searched for between July and November 2015 and, to assess density, in spring 2017. Species identification was accomplished by a PCR-RFLP method, while 17 autosomal microsatellites were used for individual identification. The stone marten occurred in all available habitats (83% of trapping sites and 73.2% of scats); nonetheless, habitat suitability, as assessed using MaxEnt, depended on four major land cover variables—rocky grasslands, rocks and debris, beech forests and chestnut forests—, martens selecting forests and avoiding open rocky areas. Sixteen individuals were identified, of which 14 related to each other, possibly forming six different groups. Using capwire estimators, density was assessed as 0.95 (0.7–1.3) ind/km2. In the study area, the widespread stone marten selected forested areas, attaining density values like those reported for the pine marten in northern Europe and suggesting that patterns of habitat selection may depend on the relative abundance of the two competing martens.

Time partitioning in mesocarnivore communities from different habitats of NW Italy: insights into martens’ competitive abilities

Behaviour ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 154 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Torretta ◽  
A. Mosini ◽  
M. Piana ◽  
P. Tirozzi ◽  
M. Serafini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Coexistence ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Interference Competition ◽  
Meles Meles ◽  
Stone Marten ◽  
Pine Marten ◽  
Mediterranean Habitats ◽  
Forested Areas ◽  
Coexisting Species ◽  
Nw Italy

Most studies focused on species coexistence have been directed at the differential use of habitat and food resources; nonetheless, the differential use of the diel cycle may enhance the coexistence of same-sized species. We investigated the activity patterns of mesocarnivores (red fox (Vulpes vulpes), European badger (Meles meles), pine marten (Martes martes), stone marten (M. foina)) in NW Italy via camera-trapping. We hypothesized that the smallest species would tend to avoid competition by selecting time periods when larger species were less active. Foxes, badgers, and stone martens were mainly nocturnal. In lowland areas overlap between coexisting species was generally low, while in Mediterranean habitats all activity patterns tended to be unimodal and overlap was generally high. The pine marten showed a cathemeral pattern. We suggest that the lower ability of the stone marten to avoid interference competition at community-level may play a major role in determining its widespread exclusion from forested areas by the pine marten.

Pine marten vs. stone marten in agricultural lowlands: a landscape-scale, genetic survey

2016 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Balestrieri ◽  
Aritz Ruiz-González ◽  
Enrica Capelli ◽  
Maria Vergara ◽  
Claudio Prigioni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Scale ◽  
Stone Marten ◽  
Pine Marten ◽  
Genetic Survey

Pits or pictures: a comparative study of camera traps and pitfall trapping to survey small mammals and reptiles

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon J. Dundas ◽  
Katinka X. Ruthrof ◽  
Giles E. St.J. Hardy ◽  
Patricia A. Fleming
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Infrared Camera ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Camera Trapping ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Pitfall Trapping ◽  
Trapping Methods

Context Camera trapping is a widely used monitoring tool for a broad range of species across most habitat types. Camera trapping has some major advantages over other trapping methods, such as pitfall traps, because cameras can be left in the field for extended periods of time. However, there is still a need to compare traditional trapping methods with newer techniques. Aims To compare trap rates, species richness and community composition of small mammals and reptiles by using passive, unbaited camera traps and pitfall traps. Methods We directly compared pitfall trapping (20-L buried buckets) with downward-facing infrared-camera traps (Reconyx) to survey small reptiles and mammals at 16 sites within a forested habitat in south-western Australia. We compared species captured using each method, as well as the costs associated with each. Key results Overall, we recorded 228 reptiles, 16 mammals and 1 frog across 640 pitfall trap-nights (38.3 animal captures per 100 trap-nights) compared to 271 reptiles and 265 mammals (for species likely to be captured in pitfall traps) across 2572 camera trap nights (20.8 animal captures per 100 trap-nights). When trap effort is taken into account, camera trapping was only 23% as efficient as pitfall trapping for small reptiles (mostly Scincidae), but was five times more efficient for surveying small mammals (Dasyuridae). Comparing only those species that were likely to be captured in pitfall traps, 13 species were recorded by camera trapping compared with 20 species recorded from pitfall trapping; however, we found significant (P<0.001) differences in community composition between the methods. In terms of cost efficacy, camera trapping was the more expensive method for our short, 4-month survey when taking the cost of cameras into consideration. Conclusions Applicability of camera trapping is dependent on the specific aims of the intended research. Camera trapping is beneficial where community responses to ecosystem disturbance are being tested. Live capture of small reptiles via pitfall trapping allows for positive species identification, morphological assessment, and collection of reference photos to help identify species from camera photos. Implications As stand-alone techniques, both survey methods under-represent the available species present in a region. The use of more than one survey method improves the scope of fauna community assessments.

scholarly journals Spatial ecology of slatey-grey snakes (Stegonotus cucullatus, Colubridae) on a tropical Australian floodplain

2005 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 605-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory P. Brown ◽  
Richard Shine ◽  
Thomas Madsen
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Ecology ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Tree Roots ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Dry Tropics ◽  
Forested Areas ◽  
Extensive Information ◽  
Soil Cracks

The extent, sequence, synchrony and correlates of diel displacements by animals can provide powerful insights into the ecological and social factors that shape an organism's day-to-day activities, but detailed data on spatial ecology are available for very few tropical taxa. Radiotelemetric monitoring of 25 slatey-grey snakes (Stegonotus cucullatus) on a floodplain in the Australian wet-dry tropics for periods of 40 to 355 d (mean=195 d, 136 locations per snake) provided extensive information on habitat use, movement patterns and home range size of these large slender-bodied colubrids. All radio-tracked animals were nocturnal, sheltering by day in soil cracks and beneath tree roots and debris. Snakes did not appear to move between 61% of successive locations and timing of movements was not synchronized among snakes. Most displacements were small (<50m), with males moving further and more often than did females. However, nesting females made occasional long-distance movements, travelling 100–400m to forested areas to oviposit but then returning to their usual home ranges. Snakes of both sexes moved further and more often during the wet-season than the dry-season. Snakes typically moved on a few successive nights then remained sedentary for the next few days, apparently reflecting cessation of activity as soon as a meal was obtained. Home ranges were small (2.9–7.4 ha) and most snakes remained in the same area throughout the year, providing a strong contrast in this respect to the large and seasonally dynamic home ranges of sympatric acrochordid and pythonid snakes.

Camera Trapping Technology and Related Advances: into the New Millennium

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 392-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul D. Meek ◽  
Guy Ballard ◽  
Greg Falzon ◽  
Jaimen Williamson ◽  
Heath Milne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wildlife Management ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Camera Trapping ◽  
Engineering Statistics ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Computational Sciences ◽  
Processing And Storage ◽  
Methods Analytical ◽  
Analytical Tools

Camera trapping has advanced significantly in Australia over the last two decades. These devices have become more versatile and the associated computer technology has also progressed dramatically since 2011. In the USA, the hunting industry drives most changes to camera traps; however the scientific fraternity has been instrumental in incorporating computational engineering, statistics and technology into camera trap use for wildlife research. New survey methods, analytical tools (including software for image processing and storage) and complex algorithms to analyse images have been developed. For example, pattern and texture analysis and species and individual facial recognition are now possible. In the next few decades, as technology evolves and ecological and computational sciences intertwine, new tools and devices will emerge into the market. Here we outline several projects that are underway to incorporate camera traps and associated technologies into existing and new tools for wildlife management. These also have significant implications for broader wildlife management and research.

Estimation of population density of European pine marten in central Italy using camera trapping

2011 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emiliano Manzo ◽  
Paola Bartolommei ◽  
J. Marcus Rowcliffe ◽  
Roberto Cozzolino
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Camera Trapping ◽  
Pine Marten ◽  
European Pine Marten

scholarly journals Nuevos datos de distribución de marta Martes martes en Ourense, Galicia. El fototrampeo como herramienta de muestreo de la especie

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Marcos Mallo-Laire ◽  
Carmen Díez
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Camera Trapping ◽  
Distribution Area ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
Martes Martes ◽  
Pine Marten ◽  
Northern Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Highly Effective ◽  
Elusive Species ◽  
Distribution And Ecology

Pine marten Martes martes is a medium size mustelid that inhabits well-conserved forests of the northern Iberian Peninsula. Currently, the distribution and ecology of the species in the Iberian Peninsula is poorly known. In this work, 27 UTM 10x10km grids in the province of Ourense were sampled using camera-trapping techniques, with the aim of increasing knowledge about the distribution of the species in Galicia. The presence of pine marten was confirmed in 18 of the surveyed grids, which increases the species´ known distribution area by 21% in this community and by 62% in Ourense province, confirming camera-trapping specific survey as a highly effective method to know the distribution of elusive species such as the pine marten.

scholarly journals Comparative efficiency of photographs and videos for individual identification of the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) in camera trapping

Therya ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana Reyes ◽  
Daniel Rodríguez ◽  
Nicolás Reyes-Amaya ◽  
Daniela Rodríguez-Castro ◽  
Hector Restrepo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Camera Trapping ◽  
Individual Identification ◽  
Comparative Efficiency

The development of an improved scat survey method for koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 125
Author(s):  
Alex Jiang ◽  
Andrew Tribe ◽  
Peter Murray
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Management ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
Current Survey ◽  
Forested Areas ◽  
Improved Accuracy ◽  
A Current

Koala scat surveys are important tools for determining koala presence and distribution in large forested areas where it is impractical to conduct direct observation surveys. However, current scat survey methods are problematic due to lack of either accuracy or feasibility, i.e. they are either biased or very time-consuming in the field. This study aimed to establish a new koala scat survey method with improved accuracy compared with existing methods, and practical in the field. We developed a new Balanced Koala Scat Survey method (BKSS), and evaluated it in the field by analysing scat detectability variations and comparing it with a current survey method, the Spot Assessment Technique (SAT), to determine scat searching accuracy. The results revealed that current methods were biased by assigning consistent searching effort for all trees, because effective searching time to detect the first scat was significantly affected by Koala Activity Level (KAL – the proportion of trees found with scats among all 30 trees in a survey site). Compared with BKSS, SAT tended to yield more false negative outcomes; SAT may miss up to 46% of trees with scats when KAL was low. The application of BKSS is expected to greatly enhance the reliability of koala scat surveys in determining koala distribution and thus improve their conservation management.

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