Use of a novel camera trapping approach to measure small mammal responses to peatland restoration

Use of a novel camera trapping approach to measure small mammal responses to peatland restoration

Small mammals, such as small rodents (Rodentia: Muroidea) and shrews (Insectivora: Soricidae), present particular challenges in camera trap surveys. Their size is often insufficient to trigger infra-red sensors, whilst resultant images may be of inadequate quality for species identification. The con...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of wildlife research Vol. 67; no. 1
Main Authors: Littlewood, Nick A., Hancock, Mark H., Newey, Scott, Shackelford, Gorm, Toney, Rose
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-02-2021
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:
Animal care
Animal welfare
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Bogs
Cameras
Ecology
Fish & Wildlife Biology & Management
Forestry
Image quality
Lenses
Life Sciences
Mammals
Original Article
Peatlands
Plantations
Polls & surveys
Restoration
Rodents
Small mammals
Soricidae
Trapping
Traps
Zoology
Trail camera
Vole
Rodent
Blanket bog
Shrew
Plantation forestry
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Summary:Small mammals, such as small rodents (Rodentia: Muroidea) and shrews (Insectivora: Soricidae), present particular challenges in camera trap surveys. Their size is often insufficient to trigger infra-red sensors, whilst resultant images may be of inadequate quality for species identification. The conventional survey method for small mammals, live-trapping, can be both labour-intensive and detrimental to animal welfare. Here, we describe a method for using camera traps for monitoring small mammals. We show that by attaching the camera trap to a baited tunnel, fixing a close-focus lens over the camera trap lens, and reducing the flash intensity, pictures or videos can be obtained of sufficient quality for identifying species. We demonstrate the use of the method by comparing occurrences of small mammals in a peatland landscape containing (i) plantation forestry (planted on drained former blanket bog), (ii) ex-forestry areas undergoing bog restoration, and (iii) unmodified blanket bog habitat. Rodents were detected only in forestry and restoration areas, whilst shrews were detected across all habitat. The odds of detecting small mammals were 7.6 times higher on camera traps set in plantation forestry than in unmodified bog, and 3.7 times higher on camera traps in restoration areas than in bog. When absolute abundance estimates are not required, and camera traps are available, this technique provides a low-cost survey method that is labour-efficient and has minimal animal welfare implications.
ISSN:1612-4642
1439-0574
DOI:10.1007/s10344-020-01449-z