The use of a camera trap and acoustic survey design to ascertain the vocalization and breeding status of the highly elusive White-winged Flufftail, Sarothrura ayresi

Colyn, Robin; Campbell, A.G.; Smit‐Robinson, Hanneline

doi:10.5751/ace-01681-150212

Cited by 4 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…Physical observations as well as audio recordings of the white-winged flufftail were documented at Middelpunt Wetland using camera trap and acoustic survey designs [ 5 , 6 ] and Verloren Valei Nature Reserve. The substrate of the wetlands at these sites is characterized by a substantial accumulation of organic matter and they are classified as peatlands [ 26 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Davies et al [ 9 ] a white-winged flufftail was flushed from Middelpunt Wetland from 0.55 m high vegetation dominated by the sedges Pycreus macranthus , Fuirena thunbergii and Leersia hexandra , while another bird was flushed from the wetlands at Verloren Valei Nature Reserve in an area dominated by Carex and Cyperus sedges between 1 and 1.5 m tall. The nests of these birds were found within vegetation ranging in height between 0.2 and 0.4 m in the wetlands of Ethiopia [ 5 ]. It, therefore, seems that the birds occur in wetland areas that have a generally lower height structure (knee-height), ranging between 0.2 and 0.66 m [ 1 , 9 ], but they also use Carex -dominated patches of up to 1.5 m tall.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The white-winged flufftail was observed at two sites within Middelpunt Wetland in 2018 [ 5 ] and at three sites at Verloren Valei Nature Reserve in 2019/2020 (H Marais 2019, personal observation). These areas are located near the town of Dullstroom in Mpumalanga, a province of South Africa ( figure 1 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Through the combined use of camera traps and acoustic devices, the vocalization of the white-winged flufftail was characterized and unequivocally confirmed for the first time. The use of these devices further revealed a better understanding of white-winged flufftail behaviour and confirmed that the bird is a habitat specialist, preferring high-altitude wetlands with intact canopy and basal cover during the breeding season [ 5 , 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…A recent camera-trap study conducted in 2018 in the Middelpunt Wetland near the town of Dullstroom in South Africa confirmed the first breeding record of white-winged flufftail in the Southern Hemisphere [ 5 ]. This record established that, apart from the known breeding population in Ethiopia, a breeding population exists in the highlands of South Africa.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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A vegetation classification and description of white-winged flufftail ( Sarothrura ayresi ) habitat at selected high-altitude peatlands in South Africa

et al. 2021

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The white-winged flufftail is listed as critically endangered, and limited knowledge about the species' ecology has been identified as a limiting factor to effectively conserving the bird. Little is known about the vegetation inhabited by the white-winged flufftail, which hampers the identification and management of its habitat. This study presents a fine-scale classification and description of the vegetation of wetland sites where the bird is known to be present. A plant phytosociological study was conducted to describe the plant communities and vegetation structure of the habitat. Three sites were selected at Verloren Valei Nature Reserve and two at Middelpunt Wetland, Mpumalanga, South Africa, shortly after the white-winged flufftail breeding season. A total of 60 sample plots were placed within the study sites, where all plant species present were recorded and identified. Other aspects such as plant height, water depth and anthropogenic influences were also documented. A modified TWINSPAN analysis resulted in the identification of three sub-communities that can be grouped into one major community. The Cyperaceae, Asteraceae and Poaceae families dominate the vegetation, with the sedges Carex austro-africana and Cyperus denudatus being dominant, and the grasses Leersia hexandra and Arundinella nepalensis co-dominant. The broad habitat structure consisted of medium to tall herbaceous plants (0.5–0.7 m) with shallow slow-flowing water.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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A vegetation classification and description of white-winged flufftail ( Sarothrura ayresi ) habitat at selected high-altitude peatlands in South Africa

et al. 2021

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Passive acoustic monitoring detects new records of globally threatened birds in a high-elevation wetland (Free State, South Africa)

Mosikidi,

Le Maitre,

Steenhuisen

et al. 2023

Bird Conservation International

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Summary Wetlands act as islands of high biodiversity within the ecological landscape and provide crucial ecosystem services to society. Anthropogenic activities are driving wetland degradation and it has become increasingly rare to find wetlands that do not show signs of biodiversity loss or alteration. The exacerbated loss of biodiversity in wetlands has a negative impact on the local economy and ecosystem services provided by these systems. We responded to the South African National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA) call to document wetland biodiversity against the backdrop of sustained wetland degradation in southern Africa. We monitored the soundscape of a high-elevation wetland in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park (GGHNP) from June 2019 to December 2020 across 24 localities using a rolling grid layout. We detected 35.9% of the avian species previously recorded from ad hoc sightings in the GGHNP of which 68.1% are wetland obligate species. We contributed an additional 10.2% new species records to the avian diversity of the GGHNP, including 24 species that are considered threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Our remote monitoring technique enabled the first ever continuous monitoring using remote acoustic equipment for a high-elevation wetland in South Africa, thus providing a valuable contribution to the NBA call.

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Implications of the scale of detection for inferring co‐occurrence patterns from paired camera traps and acoustic recorders

Vélez,

McShea,

Pukazhenthi

et al. 2024

Conservation Biology

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Multifunctional landscapes that support economic activities and conservation of biological diversity (e.g., cattle ranches with native forest) are becoming increasingly important, as small remnants of native forest may comprise the only habitat left for some wildlife species. Understanding the co‐occurrence between wildlife and disturbance factors, such as poaching activity and domestic ungulates, is key to successful management of multifunctional landscapes. Tools to measure co‐occurrence between wildlife and disturbance factors include camera traps and autonomous acoustic recording units. We paired 52 camera trap stations with acoustic recorders to investigate the association between two measures of disturbance (poaching and cattle) and wild ungulates present in multifunctional landscapes of the Colombian Orinoquía. We used joint species distribution models to investigate species‐habitat associations and species‐disturbance correlations. One model was fitted using camera trap data to detect wild ungulates and disturbance factors, and a second model was fitted after replacing camera‐trap detections of disturbance factors with their corresponding acoustic detections. The direction, significance, and precision of the effect of covariates depended on the sampling method used for disturbance factors. Acoustic monitoring typically resulted in more precise estimates of the effects of covariates and of species‐disturbance correlations. Association patterns between wildlife and disturbance factors were only found when disturbance was detected by acoustic recorders. Camera traps allowed us to detect non‐vocalizing species whereas audio recording devices increased detection of disturbance factors leading to more precise estimates of co‐occurrence patterns. The collared peccary, lowland tapir and white‐tailed deer co‐occurred with disturbance factors and are conservation priorities due to greater risk of poaching or disease transmission from cattle.Article impact statement: Co‐occurrence of disturbance and wildlife depends on method of detection (camera traps or acoustic recorders).This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

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The use of a camera trap and acoustic survey design to ascertain the vocalization and breeding status of the highly elusive White-winged Flufftail, Sarothrura ayresi

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

A vegetation classification and description of white-winged flufftail ( Sarothrura ayresi ) habitat at selected high-altitude peatlands in South Africa

A vegetation classification and description of white-winged flufftail ( Sarothrura ayresi ) habitat at selected high-altitude peatlands in South Africa

Passive acoustic monitoring detects new records of globally threatened birds in a high-elevation wetland (Free State, South Africa)

Implications of the scale of detection for inferring co‐occurrence patterns from paired camera traps and acoustic recorders

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