Detection of medium-sized ground-dwelling mammals using infrared digital cameras: an alternative way forward?
Andrew W. Claridge A B D , David J. Paull B and Simon C. Barry CA Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, Parks and Wildlife Group, Planning and Assessment Team, Southern Ranges Branch, PO Box 733, Queanbeyan, NSW 2620, Australia.
B School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Australian Defence Force Academy, Northcott Drive, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia.
C CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences, GPO Box 664, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: andrew.claridge@environment.nsw.gov.au
Australian Mammalogy 32(2) 165-171 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM09039
Submitted: 22 December 2009 Accepted: 16 March 2010 Published: 15 September 2010
Abstract
Infrared digital cameras were used to examine temporal detection rates of medium-sized ground-dwelling mammals in a coastal woodland landscape. From three successive deployments at fixed stations, a range of mammals was detected, including three target species: the long-nosed bandicoot, the long-nosed potoroo and the southern brown bandicoot. Reporting rates of target species were largely consistent and in some cases high. The swamp wallaby was the most commonly detected species, ranging from 47–67% of cameras on any given deployment. Long-nosed bandicoots were detected at 37–53% of cameras, long-nosed potoroos 13–23% and southern brown bandicoots 10–17%. In total, bandicoots and potoroos were detected at 23 of 30 sites (77%) while forage-diggings of these mammals were universally present. There were differences in the detection rate of bandicoots and potoroos in relation to 24-hourly cycles: all three species were less likely to be detected between dawn and dusk than dusk and dawn. Otherwise, with few exceptions, the rate at which bandicoots and potoroos were detected over time within a deployment did not vary markedly. Infrared digital cameras offer great potential as sampling devices for bandicoots and potoroos because of their greater detection efficiency relative to other techniques.
Acknowledgements
We thank the Department of Environment and Climate Change and Water, Parks and Wildlife Group Southern Branch Senior Management Team for financial support of this project. Professor Jóse Cuervo provided much-needed insight into the use of infrared cameras for detecting ground-dwelling mammals and reviewed earlier versions of this paper. Field research was conducted under the provisions of a NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Scientific Investigation Licence (10018) and an associated animal ethics approval (980315/01). Max Beukers, Craig Dickman, Grant Brewer, Steve Dovey and George Malolakis assisted with fieldwork.
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