Do Weather and Moon Have Any Influence on Spotlighting Mammals? The Case of Hare in Upland Ecosystem

Sokos, Christos

doi:10.15666/aeer/1304_925933

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…A possible reason for this is that both devices are equally influenced by vegetation obstruction. Several studies have demonstrated that FLIR and spotlights were negatively influenced by vegetation (Belant and Seamans 2000, Tizzani et al 2014, Sokos et al 2015, Gonzalez et al 2016, Vinson et al 2020). Gonzalez et al (2016) found that in dense vegetation, detection of koala Phascolarctos cinerus beyond 60 m was unreliable.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy of spotlights and thermal cameras to detect lions Panthera leo and spotted hyenas Crocuta crocuta depends on species and management regime

et al. 2022

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Accurate abundance estimates can contribute to effective management of large carnivore populations. Lion Panthera leo and spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta populations are frequently estimated at night by eliciting their approach using broadcasted vocalizations. Spotlights are typically used to observe these species on approach but can disturb animals and adversely affect counts. We compared the efficacy of spotlight with red filters and forward looking infrared (FLIR) thermal monocular to enumerate lions and spotted hyenas in Serengeti National Park (SNP; non-hunted area) and Maswa Game Reserve (MGR; hunted area), Tanzania, during 2015-2017. We established 119 callin sites in SNP and 20 in MGR and conducted repeated call-ins at 1-2 week intervals. During call-ins we conducted systematic paired counts using both devices. We assessed the influence of device order, species, hunting regime and land cover on species counts. We found that FLIR was more efficacious for counting hyenas in MGR and spotlight for counting lions in SNP. We found evidence for temporary artificial light disturbance in MGR, as counts were higher when FLIR was used as the second device. Habitat type within 200 m of call-in sites did not influence device performances. Greater spotlight efficacy in SNP is a likely consequence of lower perceived risk and less anthropogenic disturbance compared to MGR. To improve accuracy of counts and subsequent population estimates for lions and spotted hyenas, we recommend consideration of variation in device efficacy, based on species surveyed and management regime.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy of spotlights and thermal cameras to detect lions Panthera leo and spotted hyenas Crocuta crocuta depends on species and management regime

et al. 2022

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“…In the spotlight method, hares were counted from a 4-wheeled vehicle (see Sokos et al. 2015 , for a detailed description).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mammals and habitat disturbance: the case of brown hare and wildfire

et al. 2016

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Ecosystem disturbances, such as wildfires, are driving forces that determine ecology and conservation measures. Species respond differentially to wildfires, having diverse post-fire population evolution. This study reports, for first time, the responses of brown hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778) to wildfires. Hare relative abundance, age ratio, diet quality, body condition, and diseases were studied. Fire influence on vegetation was calculated at a micro-scale level. Hare abundance was lower the first year after wildfires in burned relative to unburned areas. The reverse was found in the second year when hare abundance was higher in burned areas. Hare abundance in burned areas was also higher in the third and fourth years. In the fifth and sixth years after wildfire no significant difference was found in abundance. At a micro-scale level, higher numbers of hare feces were counted in places with greater wildfire influence on vegetation. Age ratio analysis revealed more juveniles in burned areas, but the same number of neonates in burned and unburned areas, indicating lower mortality of juveniles in burned areas. Reduced predation in burned areas provides the most plausible explanation for our findings.

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Thermal cameras as a survey method for Australian arboreal mammals: a focus on the greater glider

Vinson

Johnson²,

Mikac³

2020

Aust. Mammalogy

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This study developed and tested the efficacy of a real-time thermography technique to improve survey methods for Australian arboreal mammal species, with a focus on the greater glider. Development involved the use of thermal imaging cameras combined with spotlight transect surveys of an endangered greater glider population at Seven Mile Beach National Park. Over 30h of nocturnal spotlight transect surveys were undertaken over 14 (1km) transects within 70ha of dry sclerophyll forest. A protocol for the use of thermography to survey greater gliders was developed. The efficacy of the thermography protocol was then experimentally tested in comparison to traditional spotlighting. Overall, thermography was better at detecting arboreal mammals than spotlighting (P<0.05). However, the effect was not significant for greater gliders (P=0.79), even though there was a trend towards improved detection of the species using thermal cameras. Thermography is a novel approach to undertaking arboreal mammal surveys and future studies should consider its relevance, effectiveness and associated costs to improve survey designs, especially for threatened species.

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Do Weather and Moon Have Any Influence on Spotlighting Mammals? The Case of Hare in Upland Ecosystem

Cited by 3 publications

References 26 publications

Efficacy of spotlights and thermal cameras to detect lions Panthera leo and spotted hyenas Crocuta crocuta depends on species and management regime

Efficacy of spotlights and thermal cameras to detect lions Panthera leo and spotted hyenas Crocuta crocuta depends on species and management regime

Mammals and habitat disturbance: the case of brown hare and wildfire

Thermal cameras as a survey method for Australian arboreal mammals: a focus on the greater glider

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