Buzzing with possibilities: Training and olfactory generalization in conservation detection dogs for an endangered stonefly species

Abstract

Professionally trained conservation detection dogs (CDDs) are taught to locate biological targets, including cryptic and low‐density plant and animal species, but have been largely underused in detecting endangered invertebrates. This pilot study assessed the ability of four volunteer CDD/handler teams to detect the endangered Alpine stonefly (Eustheniidae: Thaumatoperla alpina). Once trained, all teams identified 100% of the targets when present in container line‐up searches, with no false alerts. In the field, all available dog–handler teams (n = 3) alerted to the presence of numerous T. alpina individuals, including individuals that were not seen by experienced visual surveyors. Three of the four CDDs also spontaneously alerted (i.e. exhibited olfactory generalization) to a closely related species, the Stirling stonefly (Thaumatoperla flaveola), in an initial container search. These preliminary results demonstrate that volunteer dog–handler teams can be trained to detect T. alpina in situ. In addition, CDDs may be able to perform olfactory generalization effectively: from detecting a commonly occurring species to detecting a closely related, rare, or cryptic species.

Detection dogs provide a powerful method for conservation surveys

“…Detection dogs are particularly useful for detecting scats, reject pellets and other non‐invasive evidence of animals, and thus can play an important role in DNA sampling (Cristescu et al., 2019; Thompson et al., 2020). Dogs can discriminate between individuals within a species (Wasser et al., 2009) and have special benefits such as the ability to generalize across odours of common and closely related cryptic species (Rutter et al., 2021a) or be trained on inert‐frozen plant material for live sample detection (Needs et al., 2021). They consistently outperform traditional survey methods in the search for invasive plants (Goodwin et al., 2010), wind farm mortality surveys (Smallwood et al., 2020), scat detection (Thompson et al., 2020; Grimm‐Seyfarth et al., 2019) and live animal detection (Cristescu et al., 2015); however, dogs may not be the most cost‐effective detection tool if targets are abundant or easy to detect using other methods (Brook et al., 2012).…”

Improving access to conservation detection dogs: identifying motivations and understanding satisfaction in volunteer handlers

“…In Part D, eight of these teams participated in up to 3 days of www.publish.csiro.au/wr Wildlife Research pilot field deployment searches for greater glider scats. Some team members also participated in a small pilot study to detect an endangered species of Stonefly (Rutter et al 2021c) and another study to detect freshwater turtle nests (unpublished). Participant demographics and participation in each stage are presented in Table 1.…”

“…In a pilot program, a small group of Australian volunteers and their pet dogs were trained to detect Tiger quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) scats (Conservation Ecology Centre 2017). Following the initial success of this program, a series of studies by Rutter et al (Rutter et al 2021a(Rutter et al , 2021b(Rutter et al , 2021c documented the development of a program in which 19 volunteers and their pet dogs participated in CDD team training and deployment. While this work indicates that volunteer teams can be trained to perform CDD roles, the long-term feasibility of such a model remains unclear.…”

Phylogenetics of the skyhoppers (

“…Large glacial lakes and granite outcrops are visually prominent landscape features and provide critical habitat. The fauna is predominantly composed of insects, both in abundance and diversity, with numerous endemic grasshoppers, moths, beetles, flies and ants, many of which are threatened with extinction (Green and Osborne 1994;Mynott 2015;Rutter et al 2021). Sawfly larvae can be found in abundance devouring sapling Eucalyptus, a fly-dominated pollinator assemblage buzzes over the alpine flower meadows, and millions to billions of bogong moths (Agrotis infusa) migrate to the alps every spring to overwinter in granite caves and crevices (Green et al 2020;Milla and Encinas-Viso 2020;Goodwin et al 2021).…”

“…Sawfly larvae can be found in abundance devouring sapling Eucalyptus, a fly-dominated pollinator assemblage buzzes over the alpine flower meadows, and millions to billions of bogong moths (Agrotis infusa) migrate to the alps every spring to overwinter in granite caves and crevices (Green et al 2020;Milla and Encinas-Viso 2020;Goodwin et al 2021). Crayfish (Euastacus), stoneflies (Thaumatoperla), mayflies (Coloburiscoides), amphipods (Neoniphargus), isopods (Coluboltelson), ancient mountain shrimp (Anaspides) and small galaxid fish occupy the streams (Furse and Coughran 2011;Mynott 2015;Rutter et al 2021). Large spider holes and silvery orb webs are common sights among the vegetation.…”