Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An evaluation of field techniques for monitoring terrestrial mammal populations in Amazonia

  • Original Investigation
  • Published:
Mammalian Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the Amazon region diurnal line-transect census is the technique used by most monitoring programs to collect data on medium and large terrestrial mammals. However, this method usually fails to provide high quality information (e.g. abundance, occurrence) for some species, especially for larger bodied and less abundant ones, which are mostly threatened by human disturbances. Aiming to provide guidelines for monitoring programs in the region we compared the efficiency of three field techniques: (1) diurnal surveys (i.e. diurnal line-transect census with sign surveys), (2) nocturnal surveys and (3) camera trapping in non-flooded and seasonally flooded forest sites at the Uacari Sustainable Development Reserve, western Brazilian Amazonia. Nocturnal surveys provided poor information for all species, except pacas. Tracks accounted for 50% of the observations recorded during diurnal surveys, the most effective technique for smaller diurnal species and ungulates. For armadillos and rare species camera trapping was the most effective technique. Moreover, all techniques failed to detect the most common species, agouti, in at least two sites. High sampling effort using a combination of sampling methods and statistical analyses that enable the integration of different source data, such as photos, tracks and visual sightings, are necessary steps to maximize the efficiency of medium and large mammals monitoring programs in Amazonian forests.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Azad, M., 2006. Mammal diversity and conservation in a secondary forest in Peninsular Malaysia. Biodivers. Conserv. 15, 1013–1025.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Azevedo-Ramos, C., do Amaral, B.D., Nepstad, D.C., Soares, B., Nasi, R., 2006. Integrating ecosystem management, protected areas, and mammal conservation in the Brazilian Amazon. Ecol. Soc., 11.

  • Beck-King, H., von Helversen, O., Beck-King, R., 1999. Home range, population density, and food resources of Agouti paca (Rodentia: Agoutidae) in Costa Rica: a study using alternative methods. Biotropica 31, 675–685.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boddicker, M., Rodriguez, J.J., Amanzo, J., 2002. Indices for assessment and monitoring of large mammals within an adaptive management framework. Environ. Monit. Assess. 76, 105–123.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bodmer, R.E., Eisenberg, J.F., Redford, K.H., 1997. Hunting and the likelihood of extinction of Amazonian mammals. Conserv. Biol. 11, 460–466.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brashares, J.S., Sam, M.K., 2005. How much is enough? Estimating the minimum sampling required for effective monitoring of African reserves. Biodivers. Conserv. 14, 2709–2722.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buckland, S.T., Anderson, D.R., Burnham, K.P., Laake, J.L., Borchers, D.L., Thomas, L., 2001. Introduction to Distance Sampling: Estimating Abundance of Biological Populations. Oxford University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carrillo, E., Wong, G., Cuaron, A.D., 2000. Monitoring mammal populations in Costa Rican protected areas under different hunting restrictions. Conserv. Biol. 14, 1580–1591.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Danielsen, F., Burgess, N.D., Balmford, A., 2005. Monitoring matters: examining the potential of locally-based approaches. Biodivers. Conserv. 14, 2507–2542.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Danielsen, F., Balete, D.S., Poulsen, M.K., Enghoff, M., Nozawa, C.M., Jensen, A.E., 2000. A simple system for monitoring biodiversity in protected areas of a developing country. Biodivers. Conserv. 9, 1671–1705.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Danielsen, F., Burgess, N.D., Balmford, A., Donald, P.F., Funder, M., Jones, J.P.G., Alviola, P., Balete, D.S., Blomley, T., Brashares, J., et al., 2009. Local participation in natural resource monitoring: a characterization of approaches. Conserv. Biol. 23, 31–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Thoisy, B., Brosse, S., Dubois, M.A., 2008. Assessment of large-vertebrate species richness and relative abundance in neotropical forest using line-transect censuses: what is the minimal effort required? Biodivers. Conserv. 17, 2627–2644.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dirzo, R., Miranda, A., 1990. Contemporary neotropical defaunation and forest structure, function, and diversity—a sequel. Conserv. Biol. 4, 444–447.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubost, G., 1988. Ecology and social life of the red acouchy, Myoprocta exilis; comparison with the orange-rumped agouti, Dasyprocta leporina. J. Zool. (Lond.) 214, 107–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferraz, G., Marinelli, C.E., Lovejoy, T.E., 2008. Biological monitoring in the Amazon: recent progress and future needs. Biotropica 40, 7–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gomez, H., Wallace, R.B., Ayala, G., Tejada, R., 2005. Dry season activity periods of some Amazonian mammals. Stud. Neotrop. Fauna Environ. 40, 91–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haugaasen, T., Peres, C.A., 2005a. Mammal assemblage structure in Amazonian flooded and unflooded forests. J. Trop. Ecol. 21, 133–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haugaasen, T., Peres, C.A., 2005b. Primate assemblage structure in Amazonian flooded and unflooded forests. Am. J. Primatol. 67, 243–258.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Henry, P.Y., Lengyel, S., Nowicki, P., Julliard, R., Clobert, J., Celik, T., Gruber, B., Schmeller, D., Babij, V., Henle, K., 2008. Integrating ongoing biodiversity monitoring: potential benefits and methods. Biodivers. Conserv. 17, 3357–3382.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill, K., Padwe, J., Bejyvagi, C., Bepurangi, A., Jakugi, F., Tykuarangi, R., Tykuarangi, T., 1997. Impact of hunting on large vertebrates in the Mbaracayu reserve, Paraguay. Conserv. Biol. 11, 1339–1353.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hines, J.E., 2006. PRESENCE 2—software to estimate patch occupancy and related parameters. USGS-PWRC (www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/software/presence.html).

  • Jerozolimski, A., Peres, C.A., 2003. Bringing home the biggest bacon: a cross-site analysis of the structure of hunter-kill profiles in neotropical forests. Biol. Conserv. 111, 415–425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jorge, M., 2008. Effects of forest fragmentation on two sister genera of Amazonian rodents (Myoprocta acouchy and Dasyprocta leporina). Biol. Conserv. 141, 617–623.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karanth, K.U., 1995. Estimating Panthera tigris populations from camera-trap data using capture-recapture models. Biol. Conserv. 71, 333–338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lopes, M.A., Ferrari, S.F., 2000. Effects of human colonization on the abundance and diversity of mammals in eastern Brazilian Amazonia. Conserv. Biol. 14, 1658–1665.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacKenzie, D.I., 2005. What are the issues with presence-absence data for wildlife managers? J. Wildl. Manage. 69, 849–860.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacKenzie, D.I., Nichols, J.D., Lachman, G.B., Droege, S., Royle, J.A., Langtimm, C.A., 2002. Estimating site occupancy rates when detection probabilities are less than one. Ecology 83, 2248–2255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martins, S.D., Sanderson, J.G., Silva-Junior, J.D.E., 2007. Monitoring mammals in the Caxiuanu National Forest, Brazil—first results from the tropical ecology, assessment and monitoring (TEAM) program. Biodivers. Conserv. 16, 857–870.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michalski, F., Peres, C.A., 2007. Disturbance-mediated mammal persistence and abundance-area relationships in Amazonian forest fragments. Conserv. Biol. 21, 1626–1640.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Milner-Gulland, E.J., Bennett, E.L., 2003. Wild meat: the bigger picture. Trends Ecol. Evol. 18, 351–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naughton-Treves, L., Mena, J.L., Treves, A., Alvarez, N., Radeloff, V.C., 2003. Wildlife survival beyond park boundaries: the impact ofslash-and-burn agriculture and hunting on mammals in Tambopata. Peru. Conserv. Biol. 17, 1106–1117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nichols, J.D., Williams, B.K., 2006. Monitoring for conservation. Trends Ecol. Evol. 21, 668–673.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Norris, D., Peres, C.A., Michalski, F., Hinchsliffe, K., 2008. Terrestrial mammal responses to edges in Amazonian forest patches: a study based on track stations. Mammalia 72, 15–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noss, A.J., Oetting, I., Cuellar, R., 2005. Hunter self-monitoring by the Isoseno-Guarani in the Bolivian Chaco. Biodivers. Conserv. 14, 2679–2693.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pardini, R., Ditt, E.H., Cullen, L., Bassi, C., Rudran, R., 2003. Levantamento rápido de mamíferos terrestres de médio e grande porte. In: Cullen Jr., Rudran, R., Padua, C.V. (Eds.), Métodos de Estudo em Biologia da Conservação e no Manejo da Vida Silvestre. Editora da Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, pp. 181–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parry, L., Barlow, J., Peres, C.A., 2007. Large-vertebrate assemblages of primary and secondary forests in the Brazilian Amazon. J. Trop. Ecol. 23, 653–662.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peres, C.A., 1996. Population status of white-lipped Tayassu pecari and collared peccaries T. tajacu in hunted and unhunted Amazonian forests. Biol. Conserv. 77, 115–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peres, C.A., 1997. Primate community structure at twenty western Amazonian flooded and unflooded forests. J. Trop. Ecol. 13, 381–405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peres, C.A., 1999. General guidelines for standardizing line-transect surveys of tropical forest primates. Neotrop. Primates 7, 11–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peres, C.A., Palacios, E., 2007. Basin-wide effects of game harvest on vertebrate population densities in Amazonian forests: implications for animal-mediated seed dispersal. Biotropica 39, 304–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plumptre, A.J., 2000. Monitoring mammal populations with line transect techniques in African forests. J. Appl. Ecol. 37, 356–368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pollock, K.H., Nichols, J.D., Simons, T.R., Farnsworth, G.L., Bailey, L.L., Sauer, J.R., 2002. Large scale wildlife monitoring studies: statistical methods for design and analysis. Environmetrics 13, 105–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pontes, A.R.M., 2004. Ecology of a community of mammals in a seasonally dry forest in Roraima, Brazilian Amazon. Mamm. Biol. 69, 319–336.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reyna-Hurtado, R., Tanner, G.W., 2007. Ungulate relative abundance in hunted and non-hunted sites in Calakmul Forest (Southern Mexico). Biodivers. Conserv. 16, 743–756.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Royle, J.A., Nichols, J.D., 2003. Estimating abundance from repeated presence-absence data or point counts. Ecology 84, 777–790.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwarz, C.J., Seber, G.A.F., 1999. Estimating animal abundance: review III. Stat. Sci. 14, 427–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silver, S.C., Ostro, L.E.T., Marsh, L.K., Maffei, L., Noss, A.J., Kelly, M.J., Wallace, R.B., Gomez, H., Ayala, G., 2004. The use of camera traps for estimating jaguar Panthera onca abundance and density using capture/recapture analysis. Oryx 38, 148–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soares, B.S., Nepstad, D.C., Curran, L.M., Cerqueira, G.C., Garcia, R.A., Ramos, C.A., Voll, E., McDonald, A., Lefebvre, P., Schlesinger, P., 2006. Modelling conservation in the Amazon basin. Nature 440, 520–523.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stoner, K.E., Riba-Hernandez, P., Vulinec, K., Lambert, J.E., 2007. The role of mammals in creating and modifying seedshadows in tropical forests and some possible consequences of their elimination. Biotropica 39, 316–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tobler, M.W., Carrillo-Percastegui, S.E., Powell, G., 2009. Habitat use, activity patterns and use of mineral licks by five species of ungulate in south-eastern Peru. J. Trop. Ecol. 25, 261–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tobler, M.W., Carrillo-Percastegui, S.E., Pitman, R.L., Mares, R., Powell, G., 2008. An evaluation of camera traps for inventorying large- and medium-sized terrestrial rainforest mammals. Anim. Conserv. 11, 169–178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Voss, R.S., Emmons, L.H., 1996. Mammalian diversity in neotropical lowland rainforests: a preliminary assessment. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 230, 3–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wegge, P., Storaas, T., 2009. Sampling tiger ungulate prey by the distance method: lessons learned in Bardia National Park. Nepal Anim. Conserv. 12, 78–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, B.K., Nichols, J.D., Conroy, M.J., 2002. Analysis and Management of Animal Populations. Academic Press, San Diego, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoccoz, N.G., Nichols, J.D., Boulinier, T., 2001. Monitoring of biological diversity in space and time. Trends Ecol. Evol. 16, 446–453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia - INPA, Manaus, AM, Brazil

    Daniel Pereira Munari

  2. Department of Ecology, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia - INPA, Manaus, AM, Brazil

    Claudia Keller

  3. Universidade Federal do Amazonas - UFAM and Wildlife Conservation Society, Manaus, AM, Brazil

    Eduardo Martins Venticinque

Authors
  1. Daniel Pereira Munari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Claudia Keller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Eduardo Martins Venticinque
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel Pereira Munari.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Munari, D.P., Keller, C. & Venticinque, E.M. An evaluation of field techniques for monitoring terrestrial mammal populations in Amazonia. Mamm Biol 76, 401–408 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mambio.2011.02.007

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mambio.2011.02.007

Keywords

Search

Navigation