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Title: Influence of lure choice and survey duration on scent stations for carnivore surveys

Abstract

Abstract Noninvasive, camera‐based, scent station surveys have become a common approach to estimate population parameters for mammalian carnivores. Many carnivores are particularly sensitive to olfactory cues; and, as such, the quality and quantity of odor attractant used during surveys can significantly affect the accuracy and precision of the survey. Additionally, survey length is also an important consideration because many mammalian predators are highly mobile and elusive in nature. Using scent station surveys in autumn 2013 and 2014 on the Savannah River Site, Aiken, South Carolina, USA, we tested the effects of 5 lures: fatty acid, fish oil, synthetic fermented egg, beaver castor, and skunk essence on visitation rates, visitation probability, and latency to visitation of multiple predator species. We also estimated occupancy probability for 2 carnivore species using different survey lengths to determine the effect of survey period on the precision of occupancy estimates. We found that skunk essence had greater visitation probability and visits than other lures evaluated. Species‐specific bait‐preference models revealed that raccoons ( Procyon lotor ) were more likely to visit skunk essence, and coyotes ( Canis latrans ) were less likely to visit fish oil as compared with fatty acid. Latency to visitation ranged from 104.7more » to 112.1 hours and did not vary among scents. Longer survey durations resulted in more precise estimates of occupancy and detection probability. Our results suggest a wide range of scents commonly used for carnivore capture may perform as well as, or better than, fatty acid for noninvasive carnivore surveys. Further, study designs should carefully consider the duration of scent‐station surveys depending on the level of precision desired in estimates of occupancy and detection probability. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1]
  1. Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia P.O. Drawer E Aiken SC 29802 USA
Publication Date:
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1560887
Grant/Contract Number:  
DE‐EM0004391
Resource Type:
Publisher's Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Wildlife Society Bulletin (Online)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: Wildlife Society Bulletin (Online) Journal Volume: 43 Journal Issue: 4; Journal ID: ISSN 1938-5463
Publisher:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Citation Formats

Webster, Sarah C., and Beasley, James C. Influence of lure choice and survey duration on scent stations for carnivore surveys. United States: N. p., 2019. Web. doi:10.1002/wsb.1011.
Webster, Sarah C., & Beasley, James C. Influence of lure choice and survey duration on scent stations for carnivore surveys. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1011
Webster, Sarah C., and Beasley, James C. Tue . "Influence of lure choice and survey duration on scent stations for carnivore surveys". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1011.
@article{osti_1560887,
title = {Influence of lure choice and survey duration on scent stations for carnivore surveys},
author = {Webster, Sarah C. and Beasley, James C.},
abstractNote = {Abstract Noninvasive, camera‐based, scent station surveys have become a common approach to estimate population parameters for mammalian carnivores. Many carnivores are particularly sensitive to olfactory cues; and, as such, the quality and quantity of odor attractant used during surveys can significantly affect the accuracy and precision of the survey. Additionally, survey length is also an important consideration because many mammalian predators are highly mobile and elusive in nature. Using scent station surveys in autumn 2013 and 2014 on the Savannah River Site, Aiken, South Carolina, USA, we tested the effects of 5 lures: fatty acid, fish oil, synthetic fermented egg, beaver castor, and skunk essence on visitation rates, visitation probability, and latency to visitation of multiple predator species. We also estimated occupancy probability for 2 carnivore species using different survey lengths to determine the effect of survey period on the precision of occupancy estimates. We found that skunk essence had greater visitation probability and visits than other lures evaluated. Species‐specific bait‐preference models revealed that raccoons ( Procyon lotor ) were more likely to visit skunk essence, and coyotes ( Canis latrans ) were less likely to visit fish oil as compared with fatty acid. Latency to visitation ranged from 104.7 to 112.1 hours and did not vary among scents. Longer survey durations resulted in more precise estimates of occupancy and detection probability. Our results suggest a wide range of scents commonly used for carnivore capture may perform as well as, or better than, fatty acid for noninvasive carnivore surveys. Further, study designs should carefully consider the duration of scent‐station surveys depending on the level of precision desired in estimates of occupancy and detection probability. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.},
doi = {10.1002/wsb.1011},
journal = {Wildlife Society Bulletin (Online)},
number = 4,
volume = 43,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 10 00:00:00 EDT 2019},
month = {Tue Sep 10 00:00:00 EDT 2019}
}

Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1011

Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 12 works
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