Hair Sampling Techniques for River Otters

DePue, John E.; Ben‐David, Merav

doi:10.2193/2005-712

Cited by 26 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…These survey dates represent the summer season for this region. We measured habitat characteristics at river otter latrines and un-used sites selected at random in conjunction with a study to develop noninvasive DNA sampling techniques for otters (DePue and Ben-David 2007). We located latrine sites by surveying both river banks with raft or kayak and on foot within 30 m from the water's edge, because previous studies demonstrated that most otter latrines occur within this distance (Bowyer et al 1995).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

River Otter Latrine Site Selection in Arid Habitats of Western Colorado, USA

DePue

Ben‐David

2010

J Wildl Manag

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River otters (Lontra canadensis) select specific habitat features when establishing latrines, but no studies have described latrine features in arid and semiarid environments. We developed a model describing those habitat features that influence otter latrine site selection on rivers in arid and semiarid watersheds of western Colorado, USA. River otters selected latrine sites with the presence of beaver (Castor canadensis) activity, large prominent rocks, adjacent to deeper water, with shading over the site, and rock or cliff overstory. Our model provides a robust predictive tool for identifying river otter latrine sites in arid environments of southwestern North America.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

River Otter Latrine Site Selection in Arid Habitats of Western Colorado, USA

DePue

Ben‐David

2010

J Wildl Manag

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“…Hair snares are often used as a noninvasive way to survey for mesocarnivores, but results have been mixed. Depue and Ben-David [14] used hair snares to survey river otter (Lontra canadensis) population densities with great success, with over 90% of their snares detecting river otters. On the other hand, hair snares set to survey bobcat (Lynx rufus) and fisher (Pekania pennanti) populations in Vermont failed to detect a single animal, even though they were known to be in the area [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applications of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to Survey Mesocarnivores

Bushaw

Ringelman

Rohwer

2019

Drones

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With the widespread extirpation of top predators over the past two centuries, mesocarnivores play an increasingly important role in structuring terrestrial trophic webs. However, mesocarnivores are difficult to survey at a population level because their widely spaced territories and nocturnal behavior result in low detection probability. Existing field survey techniques such as track plates and motion-sensitive camera traps are time-consuming and expensive, and yet still yield data prone to systematic errors. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have recently emerged as a new tool for conducting population surveys on a wide variety of wildlife, eclipsing the efficiency and even accuracy of traditional methods. We used a UAV equipped with a thermal imaging camera to conduct nighttime mesocarnivore surveys in the prairie pothole region of southern Manitoba, Canada. This was part of a much larger ecological study evaluating how lethal removal of mesocarnivores affects duck nest success. Here, our objective was to describe methods and equipment that were successful in detecting mesocarnivores. We used a modified point-count survey from six waypoints that surveyed a spatial extent of 29.5 ha. We conducted a total of 200 flights over 53 survey nights during which we detected 32 mesocarnivores of eight different species. Given the large home ranges of mesocarnivores relative to the spatial and temporal scale of our spot sampling approach, results of these types of point-count surveys should be considered estimates of minimum abundance and not a population census. However, more frequent sampling and advanced statistics could be used to formally estimate population occupancy and abundance. UAV-mounted thermal imaging cameras appear to be an effective tool for conducting nocturnal population surveys on mesocarnivores at a moderate spatial scale.

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“…Hair collection enables genetic and stable isotope analysis to be undertaken. This trapping method could be very important in providing new information to assist goral conservation and management (Mowat and Strobeck , Darimont and Reimchen , Mowat and Paetkau , Depue and Ben‐David ). In our study, we also collected hairs of other species, such as roe deer ( Capreolus pygargus ) and wild boar ( Sus scrofa ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many noninvasive techniques for monitoring mammal populations have been developed and evaluated (Long et al ). One such method used for genetic or isotopic studies of endangered species is hair traps (Mowat and Strobeck , Mowat and Paetkau , Depue and Ben‐David ). However, most species for which this technique has been applied have been carnivores, even though the approach could be equally applicable to critically endangered and hard‐to‐catch herbivores (Largo et al , Sandfort ).…”

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confidence: 99%

Comparison of hair‐trapping methods for the long‐tailed goral

Park

Cowan

et al. 2018

Wildl. Soc. Bull.

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In South Korea, there is a need for more ecological information about endangered herbivores such as the long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus). This species lives in steep, rocky valleys and is difficult to trap and study. Noninvasive hair capture techniques have frequently been applied to carnivores to enable DNA or isotope analysis. Therefore, we assessed the effectiveness of hair-trapping using a population of goral in the Wangpi River basin in South Korea. To compare efficiency of the different shapes of hair traps, we used barbed traps at 4 (2008) and 9 sites (2009), and a hook-style trap (2010) with barbed traps at each of 15 sites. In 2008, we collected 15 hairs at all 4 sites with barbs. In 2009, we obtained 48 hairs at 8 of the 9 sites using barbs; and in 2010, we collected 99 hairs (barbed: 50 hairs, hook traps: 49 hairs) at 10 of the 15 sites using both traps. In 2010, the 2 shapes of hair traps were equally efficient at providing samples. We concluded that the hair-trapping method allows for noninvasive monitoring of the endangered goral, and could be used to monitor other species in South Korea. Ó 2018 The Wildlife Society.

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Hair Sampling Techniques for River Otters

Cited by 26 publications

References 33 publications

River Otter Latrine Site Selection in Arid Habitats of Western Colorado, USA

River Otter Latrine Site Selection in Arid Habitats of Western Colorado, USA

Applications of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to Survey Mesocarnivores

Comparison of hair‐trapping methods for the long‐tailed goral

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