Watching a movie or going for a walk? Testing different Sun bear ( Helarctos malayanus ) occupancy monitoring schemes

Hystrix, the Italian Journal of Mammalogy

article

Francesco Bisi¹  Giacomo Cremonesi¹  Lorenzo Gaffi²  Filippo Zibordi²  Alessandra Gagliardi¹  Leonardo Gueli²  Adriano Martinoli¹  Damiano Preatoni¹ 

[1] Unità di Analisi e Gestione delle Risorse Ambientali – Guido Tosi Research Group, Dipartimento di Scienze Teoriche e Applicate, Università degli Studi dell’Insubria;Istituto Oikos

关键词: camera traps;    transects;    occupancy;    detectability;    Sun bear;    Myanmar;   

DOI  :  10.4404/hystrix-00246-2019

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Associazione Teriologica Italiana

【 摘 要 】

Size and distribution of wild populations are key elements in determining their conservation status,especially for vulnerable and elusive species. Therefore, choosing the proper monitoring method isfundamental to estimate population indices and consequently address conservation actions. In thisstudy we worked in Rakhine State, Myanmar applying and comparing two occupancy-based sampling methods to evaluate Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) presence: camera traps and sign survey(line transects). Moreover, to apply occupancy models it is necessary to establish length (time orspace) of sampling occasions, therefore for both methodologies we tested four different samplingintensities to explore if results are affected by different temporal or spatial replicates. Both occupancy and detectability values varied between the two methods: we found lower values from cameratraps analysis with no differences between different sampling occasions/segment lengths. Sign survey showed higher values for both parameters but changes in spatial segment lengths (line transects)affect occupancy estimates. Overall camera traps represent a more appropriate tool to study Sunbears in tropical forest habitats found in our study area. Our results provide useful information toplan an efficient monitoring scheme for bears in tropical forests.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC