Title
The potential and practice of arboreal camera trapping
Date Issued
01 October 2021
Access level
open access
Resource Type
review
Author(s)
Moore J.F.
Soanes K.
Balbuena D.
Beirne C.
Bowler M.
Cheyne S.M.
Coutant O.
Forget P.M.
Haysom J.K.
Houlihan P.R.
Olson E.R.
Lindshield S.
Martin J.
Tobler M.
Whitworth A.
Gregory T.
The Field Museum of Natural History
Publisher(s)
British Ecological Society
Abstract
Arboreal camera trapping is a burgeoning method providing a novel and effective technique to answer research questions across a variety of ecosystems, and it has the capacity to improve our understanding of a wide range of taxa. However, while terrestrial camera trapping has received much attention, there is little guidance for dealing with the unique challenges of working in the arboreal realm. Our review draws on the expertise of researchers from six continents and the broader literature to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of arboreal camera trapping, and challenges to consider when using this technology. We also include mini-guides with detailed information on the current arboreal camera trap literature, mounts used to install arboreal cameras, tree climbing pointers and safety tips, methods for deploying cameras without climbing, and tips for managing interference with camera function. We find that arboreal camera traps have been most commonly used in the study of mammals in forests; however, there is potential for this method to be applied to a broad range of habitats including urban areas, and taxa such as birds, amphibians, invertebrates, and plants. Methods in arboreal camera trapping could be improved by developing a greater understanding of the factors affecting detection of species. The most common challenges of arboreal camera trapping are camera placement and camera site access. These can be overcome by understanding correct camera orientation, managing potential sources of interference in front of cameras, utilizing appropriate cameras mounts and training researchers properly. Given the benefits and opportunities presented by arboreal camera trapping, it is likely to become an ever-more popular method of studying arboreal species and systems. The information synthesized in this review provides guidance for future studies to help direct more reliable and robust ecological inferences from arboreal camera trapping.
Start page
1768
End page
1779
Volume
12
Issue
10
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Ciencias naturales
Ecología
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85111525041
Source
Methods in Ecology and Evolution
ISSN of the container
2041210X
Sponsor(s)
We thank the editor, Ross Goldingay, and two anonymous reviewer for their generous and insightful comments that helped improve this manuscript. In addition, we thank Guillermo Estupiñán and Chen Zhu for assistance in translating the abstract into multiple languages. K.S. was supported by the Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub and Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the Australian Government's National Environmental Science Program.
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus