Temporal activity patterns of the swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus) and other rodents in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

The activity patterns and partitioning of time by four small mammal species, with a focus on the swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus) in north-eastern New South Wales, was investigated using camera trap data from two studies. Analysis was carried out on 1079 camera trap events over 1530 camera trap–nights or 36 720 h of camera trap deployment in the field. The activity patterns of Rattus lutreolus were distinctly diurnal with crepuscular peaks of activity but this differed between sites and when in the presence of competitors. The Hastings River mouse (Pseudomys oralis) and the bush rat (Rattus fuscipes) displayed typical bimodal patterns of nocturnal activity. Antechinus were mostly nocturnal but were occasionally active during the day. These data indicate that where species of Muridae co-occur, diurnal time partitioning by R. lutreolus may reduce competition for food resources. It also confirms the speculation that R. lutreolus displays diurnal behaviour, albeit dependent on the presence of other murids.

Using motion-sensor camera technology to infer seasonal activity and thermal niche of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)

“…Thus, researchers have increasingly used indirect methods to document wildlife activity, such as motion-sensor camera traps (see O'Connell et al, 2010 for a review). Researchers suggest that camera traps provide a more accurate empirical documentation and quantification of wildlife behavior and activity patterns than historical trapping and observational methods (Dillon and Kelly, 2007;Meek et al, 2012). For example, camera traps provided a rare insight into specific partitioning of activity timing in small mammals that was previously unknown (Meek et al, 2012), of extended activity in amphibians (Hoffman et al, 2010), and of the first known evidence of nocturnal activity in a presumptive diurnal primate (Tan et al, 2013).…”

ClassifyMe: a field-scouting software for the identification of wildlife in camera trap images

“…Passive Infrared sensor activated cameras, otherwise known as camera traps, have proved to be a tool of major interest and benefit to wildlife management practitioners and ecological researchers (Meek et al 2014a;b). Camera traps are used for a diverse array of purposes including presence-absence studies (Khorozyan, Malkhasyan & Abramov 2008;Gormley et al 2011;Ramsey, Caley & Robley 2015), population estimates (Karanth 1995;Trolle & Kéry 2003;Jackson et al 2006;Gowen and Vernes 2014), animal behaviour studies (Vernes, Smith & Jarman 2014;Vernes et al 2015); and species interactions studies (Harmsen et al 2009;Linkie & Ridout 2011;Meek, Zewe & Falzon 2012). A comprehensive discussion of applications of camera trap methodologies and applications are described in sources including O'Connell et al (2011); Meek et al (2014a); Rovero and Zimmerman (2016).…”

ClassifyMe: A Field-Scouting Software for the Identification of Wildlife in Camera Trap Images

“…Passive Infrared sensor activated cameras, otherwise known as camera traps, have proved to be a tool of major interest and benefit to wildlife management practitioners and ecological researchers [1,2]. Camera traps are used for a diverse array of purposes including presence-absence studies [3][4][5], population estimates [6][7][8][9], animal behaviour studies [10][11][12], and species interactions studies [12][13][14]. A comprehensive discussion of the applications of camera trap methodologies and applications are described in sources including [15][16][17].…”