Horizontal or vertical? Camera trap orientations and recording modes for detecting potoroos, bandicoots and pademelons
Brendan D. Taylor A C , Ross L. Goldingay A and John M. Lindsay B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia.
B PO Box 544, Mullumbimby, NSW 2482, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: brendan.taylor@scu.edu.au
Australian Mammalogy 36(1) 60-66 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM13012
Submitted: 26 April 2013 Accepted: 23 September 2013 Published: 6 December 2013
Abstract
Camera traps can detect rare and cryptic species, and may enable description of the stability of populations of threatened species. We investigated the relative performance of cameras oriented horizontally or vertically, and recording mode (still and video) to detect the vulnerable long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) as a precursor to population monitoring. We established camera traps for periods of 13–21 days across 21 sites in Richmond Range National Park in north-east New South Wales. Each camera trap set consisted of three KeepGuard KG680V cameras directed at a bait container – one horizontal and one vertical camera in still mode and one horizontal camera in video mode. Potoroos and bandicoots (Perameles nasuta and Isoodon macrourus) were detected at 14 sites and pademelons (Thylogale stigmatica and T. thetis) were detected at 19 sites. We used program Presence to compare detection probabilities for each camera category. The detection probability for all three taxa groups was lowest for the vertical still and similar for the horizontal cameras. The detection probability (horizontal still) was highest for the potoroos (0.43) compared with the bandicoots (0.16) and pademelons (0.25). We estimate that the horizontal stills camera could achieve a 95% probability of detection of a potoroo within 6 days compared with 8 days using a vertical stills camera. This suggests that horizontal cameras in still mode have great potential for monitoring the dynamics of this potoroo population.
Additional keywords: camera orientation, Richmond Range National Park.
References
BioNet (2012). Atlas Search. New South Wales Government, Sydney. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/atlaspublicapp/UI_Modules/ATLAS_/AtlasSearch.aspx [Verified 1 November 2012.]Burnham, K. P., and Anderson, D. R. (2002). ‘Model Selection and Multimodel Inference: A Practical Information-Theoretic Approach.’ (Springer: New York.)
Carbone, C., Christie, S., Coulson, T., Franklin, N., Ginsberg, J. R., Griffiths, M., Holden, J., Kawanishi, K., Kinnaird, M. F., Laidlaw, R., Lynam, A., Macdonald, D. W., Martyr, D., McDougal, C., Nath, L., Obrien, T., Seidensticker, J., Smith, D. J. L., Sunquist, M., Tilson, R., and Wan Shahruddin, W. N. (2001). The use of photographic rates to estimate densities of tigers and other cryptic mammals. Animal Conservation 4, 75–79.
| The use of photographic rates to estimate densities of tigers and other cryptic mammals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Claridge, A. W., and Barry, S. C. (2000). Factors influencing the distribution of medium-sized ground-dwelling mammals in southeastern mainland Australia. Austral Ecology 25, 676–688.
| Factors influencing the distribution of medium-sized ground-dwelling mammals in southeastern mainland Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Claridge, A. W., Mifsud, G., Dawson, J., and Saxon, M. J. (2004). Use of infrared digital cameras to investigate the behaviour of cryptic species. Wildlife Research 31, 645–650.
| Use of infrared digital cameras to investigate the behaviour of cryptic species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Claridge, A. W., Paull, D. J., and Barry, S. C. (2010). Detection of medium-sized ground-dwelling mammals using infrared digital cameras: an alternative way forward? Australian Mammalogy 32, 165–171.
| Detection of medium-sized ground-dwelling mammals using infrared digital cameras: an alternative way forward?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cutler, T. L., and Swann, D. E. (1999). Using remote photography in wildlife ecology: a review. Wildlife Society Bulletin 27, 571–581.
De Bondi, N., White, J. G., Stevens, M., and Cooke, R. (2010). A comparison of the effectiveness of camera trapping and live trapping for sampling terrestrial small-mammal communities. Wildlife Research 37, 456–465.
| A comparison of the effectiveness of camera trapping and live trapping for sampling terrestrial small-mammal communities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dexter, N., and Murray, A. J. (2009). The impact of fox control on the relative abundance of forest mammals in east Gippsland, Victoria. Wildlife Research 36, 252–261.
| The impact of fox control on the relative abundance of forest mammals in east Gippsland, Victoria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Edwards, D. (2005). The parks and reserves of the northern Richmond Range (including Richmond Range, Toonumbar and Mallanganee National Parks and Hogarth Range Nature Reserve). Plan of Management. National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW.
Frankham, G. J., Reed, R. L., Fletcher, T. P., and Handasyde, K. A. (2011). Population ecology of the long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) on French Island, Victoria. Australian Mammalogy 33, 73–81.
| Population ecology of the long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) on French Island, Victoria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hamel, S., Killengreen, S. T., Henden, J.-A., Eide, N. E., Roed-Eriksen, L., Ims, R. A., and Yoccoz, N. G. (2013). Towards good practice guidance in using camera-traps in ecology: influence of sampling design on validity of ecological inferences. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 4, 105–113.
| Towards good practice guidance in using camera-traps in ecology: influence of sampling design on validity of ecological inferences.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hohnen, R., Ashby, J., Tuft, K., and McGregor, H. (2013). Individual identification of northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus) using remote cameras. Australian Mammalogy 35, 131–135.
| Individual identification of northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus) using remote cameras.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jackson, R. M., Roe, J. D., Wangchuk, R., and Hunter, D. O. (2006). Estimating snow leopard population abundance using photography and capture–recapture techniques. Wildlife Society Bulletin 34, 772–781.
| Estimating snow leopard population abundance using photography and capture–recapture techniques.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Johnston, P. G. (2008). Long-nosed potoroo. In ‘The Mammals of Australia’. (Eds S. Van Dyck and R. Strahan.) pp. 302–304. (Reed New Holland: Sydney.)
Karanth, K. U. (1995). Estimating tiger Panthera tigris populations from camera-trap data using capture–recapture models. Biological Conservation 71, 333–338.
| Estimating tiger Panthera tigris populations from camera-trap data using capture–recapture models.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kelly, M. J., and Holub, E. L. (2008). Camera trapping of carnivores: trap success among camera types and across species, and habitat selection by species, on Salt Pond Mountain, Giles County, Virginia. Northeastern Naturalist 15, 249–262.
| Camera trapping of carnivores: trap success among camera types and across species, and habitat selection by species, on Salt Pond Mountain, Giles County, Virginia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Li, S., McShea, W. J., Wang, D., Lu, Z., and Gu, X. (2012). Gauging the impact of management expertise on the distribution of large mammals across protected areas. Diversity & Distributions 18, 1166–1176.
| Gauging the impact of management expertise on the distribution of large mammals across protected areas.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
MacKenzie, D. I., Nichols, J. D., Royle, J. A., Pollock, K. H., Bailey, L. L., and Hines, J. E. (2006). ‘Occupancy Estimation and Modelling: Inferring Patterns and Dynamics of Species Occurrence.’ (Academic Press: Burlington.)
Mason, R. J. (1997). Habitat use and population size of the long-nosed potoroo, Potorous tridactylus (Marsupialia: Potoroidae) in a coastal reserve, north-eastern New South Wales. Australian Mammalogy 20, 35–42.
McCain, E. B., and Childs, J. L. (2008). Evidence of resident jaguars (Panthera onca) in the southwestern United States and the implications for conservation. Journal of Mammalogy 89, 1–10.
| Evidence of resident jaguars (Panthera onca) in the southwestern United States and the implications for conservation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Meek, P. D., and Pittet, A. (2012). User-based design specifications for the ultimate camera trap for wildlife research. Wildlife Research 39, 649–660.
| User-based design specifications for the ultimate camera trap for wildlife research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Norton, M. A., Claridge, A. W., French, K., and Prentice, A. (2010). Population biology of the long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) in the southern highlands of New South Wales. Australian Journal of Zoology 58, 362–368.
| Population biology of the long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) in the southern highlands of New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
O’Connell, A. F., and Bailey, L. L. (2011). Inference for occupancy and occupancy dynamics. In ‘Camera Traps in Animal Ecology Methods and Analyses’. (Eds A. F. O’Connell, J. D. Nichols and K. U. Karanth.) pp. 191–206. (Springer: New York.)
Rowcliffe, J. M., and Carbone, C. (2008). Surveys using camera traps: are we looking to a brighter future? Animal Conservation 11, 185–186.
| Surveys using camera traps: are we looking to a brighter future?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rowcliffe, J. M., Field, J., Turvey, S. T., and Carbone, C. (2008). Estimating animal density using camera traps without the need for individual recognition. Journal of Applied Ecology 45, 1228–1236.
| Estimating animal density using camera traps without the need for individual recognition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Smith, J. K., and Coulson, G. (2012). A comparison of vertical and horizontal camera trap orientations for detection of potoroos and bandicoots. Australian Mammalogy 34, 196–201.
| A comparison of vertical and horizontal camera trap orientations for detection of potoroos and bandicoots.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Swann, D.E., Hass, C.C., Dalton, D.C., and Wolf, S.A. (2004). Infrared-triggered cameras for detecting wildlife: an evaluation and review. Wildlife Society Bulletin 32, 357–365.
Taylor, B. D., and Goldingay, R. L. (2012). Restoring connectivity in landscapes fragmented by major roads: a case study using wooden poles as ‘stepping stones’. Restoration Ecology 20, 671–678.
| Restoring connectivity in landscapes fragmented by major roads: a case study using wooden poles as ‘stepping stones’.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tobler, M. W., Carrillo-Percastegui, S. E., Pitman, R. L., Mares, R., and Powell, G. (2008). An evaluation of camera traps for inventorying large- and medium-sized terrestrial rainforest mammals. Animal Conservation 11, 169–178.
| An evaluation of camera traps for inventorying large- and medium-sized terrestrial rainforest mammals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wang, S. W., and Macdonald, D. W. (2009). The use of camera traps for estimating tiger and leopard populations in the high altitude mountains of Bhutan. Biological Conservation 142, 606–613.
| The use of camera traps for estimating tiger and leopard populations in the high altitude mountains of Bhutan.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
