Vyshnevsky,
D. 2021. The experience of low-resource fauna research
by using camera traps.Theriologia Ukrainica,
21: 114–124.
title |
The experience
of low-resource fauna research by using camera traps |
author(s) |
Denys Vyshnevsky |
affiliation |
Chornobyl Radioecological
Biosphere Reserve (Ivankiv, Ukraine) |
bibliography |
Theriologia Ukrainica.
2021. Vol. 21: 114–124. |
DOI |
http://doi.org/10.15407/TU2110 |
|
|
language |
Ukrainian, with English summary,
titles of tables, captures to figs |
abstract |
The tasks
of managing animal populations (conservation, exploitation,
and control) require reliable initial information
for their implementation. This information includes
a number of parameters: spatial distribution, annual
and daily cycles of activity, abundance and its
dynamics, ecosystem relationships, reproduction,
nutrition, mortality, and others. Of this broad
set, abundance and territorial distribution are
of basic importance. They affect all other parameters.
However, these indicators are the most sensitive
to the influence of factors of qualification and
motivation of the performer. The solution to this
problem leads to searching for ways to unify methods
in order to reduce errors in the assessment. One
of the solutions to this problem is the introduction
of technical means such as camera traps. Camera
traps have become an increasingly popular tool in
wildlife research. With its help, the following
tasks are solved: assessment of the number and spatial
distribution of animals, daily and seasonal activity,
and much more. This tool avoids the factor of subjectivity.
At the same time, in our conditions, the price of
a camera trap is high for a researcher. However,
the methodological requirements for the study require
the use of more than ten cameras. Thus, it becomes
necessary to comprehend low-resource research and
the results that they can bring. During 2018, research
was carried out in the territory of the Chornobyl
Reserve using six camera traps. The placement of
camera traps was not systematic, but corresponded
to the diversity of habitats. The objects of research
were such representatives of mammals as the elk,
deer, wolf, roe deer, wild boar, fox, raccoon dog,
and hare. They are the ones that make up the set
of species that can be effectively captured by a
camera trap. The following results were obtained:
daily activity, spatial distribution, quantitative
characteristics of groups. As the results have shown,
even a small number of camera traps makes it possible
to assess the presence of the largest animals and
their daily activity. It should be noted that this
group of species is of the greatest interest from
the viewpoint of regulation and protection. Numerical
parameters such as quantity and relative abundance
cannot be used for estimation. This is due to the
high sensitivity to local conditions. |
keywords |
camera trap, mammals,
daily activity, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone |
|
|
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